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feeding synthetic and herbal choline on broiler performance

An Evaluation of comparative effects of feeding synthetic and herbal choline on broiler performance, nutrient balance and serum activities

Published: July 17, 2012
By: Jadhav N. V., V. Nagbhushana, Shivi Maini (Ayurvet) and S. M. Kartikesh
Summary

An experiment in broiler chickens was conducted to evaluate comparative efficacy of herbal and synthetic choline on body weight, weight gain, FCR, nutrient balance serum activities and economic benefit for 35 days on deep litter. A significant (P<0.05) increase in body weight gain (110, 181 & 149 g) was observed in synthetic and herbal fed groups. The findings also recorded significant (P<0.05) improvement in FCR (1.93, 1.88 & 1.90) in choline supplemented broilers when compared with low choline diet fed (control) birds. The results indicated significant (P<0.05) elevation in serum glucose levels (212.6 223.4 mg/dl) and notable reduction in serum cholesterol levels in herbal choline incorporated broilers. The herbal choline added birds noted enhanced nutrient retention and boosted overall economy of broiler raising.

Key words: Broiler chickens, economy, synthetic and herbal choline, nutrient balance, serum activities.

Introduction
Efforts to replace synthetic vitamins and enzymes by herbal preparations are always being made through research to avoid the side effects of them in livestock and poultry. It has been reported that a herbal product lactogen galacta-gogue had effectively maintained the egg production in pullets affected with coccidiosis (Jadhav et al.,1997). Further, it has been recorded that herbal products like Livifit and AV/HTP/36 improved performance and carcass characteristics in broilers (Jadhav et al., 2004). Herbal liver preparations such as Toxiroak & Vilocym Z has been found much beneficial in not merely counteracting the ill effects of toxic principles in poultry feed but also acted as performance promoters (Narahari, D., 1992 ). Daljeet Kaur et al., (2007) observed significantly (P<0.05) better body weight, body weight gain, FCR, energy and protein utilization along with superior immune status and hemato-biochemicals studied in broiler chickens with supplementation of herbal methionone. The objectives of the current investigation were: i) to assess beneficial effects of herbal choline over synthetic one in improving performance of broilers ii) to evaluate the economy of broiler rearing and iii) to find out comparative added advantages of herbal choline in enhancing nutrient retention and any benefit in serum activities. 
Materials and Methods
One hundred & Eighty broiler chicks of day old age were randomly divided into three groups with one control and three treatments having 60 birds in each group with 4 replicates of 15 broilers each. The control (T0) was offered low choline feed whereas, other three groups were supplemented with synthetic choline (T1) and AV/BCP/15 (polyherbal formulation) (T2) at the rate of 0.5 g per kg of feed from day old age till the end of trial. The polyherbal formulation, Repchol (AV/BCP/15) was supplied by M/S Ayurvet Ltd., Baddi, Solan (H.P.), India. The birds were reared on deep litter with adlibitum feeding and watering. They were fed with broiler starter & finisher rations as per the formulae depicted in table 6. Individual body weights and group feed consumption were recorded at weekly intervals to calculate F.C.R. Feed was analyzed as per (AOAC, 1990) to estimate proximate principles. The nutrient balance was calculated by conducting a metabolic trial of 3 days from 31st. to 33 rd days of age. The serum profile was determined as per Mukharjee (1989). The data was statistically analyzed (Snedecor and Cochran, 1980) by pooling the data of replicates together since there was no difference in observations. 
Results and Discussion
The findings on weekly body weight, weight gain and FCR are depicted in table 1 & 2. It can be understood from these results the weekly body weights (110 & 149 g) were significantly (P<0.05) enhanced in treated birds at the end of trial as compared to control i.e. low choline feed. The synthetic choline and herbal ingredients in AV/BCP/15 might have elevated metabolic and conversion rate for effective utilization of leading to improvement in these parameters .The observations tallied the similar noting of Sapcota et al.,(2007) who reported that supplementation of herbal growth promoters namely AV/LTP/13, 23 and 33 developed by Ayurvet Ltd. did improve weight gain and FCR in broilers. Further, findings also matched with the recordings of Bhanja et al.,(2007) who stated that the herbal choline supplemented pullets produced significantly (P<0.021) more percent hen day eggs (84.72) along with significantly (P<0.013) better feed efficiency (1.34 vs 1.54) during 33-36 weeks of age as compared to pullets fed with commercial feed grade choline. The observations of nutrient composition and their balance are tabulated in table 4 and 5 respectively. It can be assessed from these figures that the retention of nutrients such as protein, energy, fibre, fat, NFE, Ca, P and TDN showed numerical but notable improvement in broilers fed withAV/BCP/15. The herbal constituents might have stimulated the metabolic activities in respect of assimilation and absorption to digest more nutrients. The better figures of body weights, body weight gain and FCR were indicative of these facts. The recording of blood biochemical parameters (aver. values of 5 weeks) is compiled in table 3. It was evident that there was numerical decrease in SGOT and SGPT in treated groups whereas the triglycerides significantly (P<0.05) in those birds when compared with control. The protein level was not affected by the supplementation but the cholesterol levels in treated broilers were significantly reduced, the lowest being in herbal choline supplemented group. The glucose level was significantly (P<0.05) elevated in treated birds again. The addition of herbal choline supplement Repchol (AV/ BCP/15) in the diet of poultry significantly contributed in reducing cholesterol, triglycerides & regulating the fat metabolism in broilers in addition to improvement in growth performance & other haematobiochemical parameters. Data of liver enzymes indicated that use of herbal and synthetic products protected the liver function as evident by normalization of ALT & AST enzyme levels. It can be concluded that polyherbal formulation Repchol can replace synthetic choline chloride as evident by the comparable hypocholesterolemeic effect & absence of fatty liver in treatment groups (II, III ).The economic impact analysis also revealed that the birds fed polyherbal formulations recorded higher net returns when compared with control as well as synthetic choline inclusion (table 6 & 7). Supplementation of both synthetic and polyherbal formulation resulted in overall improvement of broiler performance, economy, nutrient balance and biochemical parameters when compared with control and birds fed with synthetic choline.
Table 1. Comparative effects of feeding synthetic and herbal choline on average body weights of broiler chickens.
An Evaluation of comparative effects of feeding synthetic and herbal choline on broiler performance, nutrient balance and serum activities - Image 1
Note: The figures bearing minimum one common superscript in a row do not differ significantly (P<0.05)
 
Table 2: Comparative effects of feeding synthetic & herbal choline on body weight gain and F.C.R. in broiler chickens
 An Evaluation of comparative effects of feeding synthetic and herbal choline on broiler performance, nutrient balance and serum activities - Image 2
B W G: Body weight gain (g), F C : Feed consumption (g), F C R: Feed conversion ratio
Note: The figures bearing minimum one common superscript in a row do not differ significantly (P<0.05)
 
Table 3: Comparative effects of feeding of synthetic & herbal choline on serum activities in broiler chickens.
 An Evaluation of comparative effects of feeding synthetic and herbal choline on broiler performance, nutrient balance and serum activities - Image 3
 
Table-4: Nutrient composition of experimental diets in feeding of synthetic and herbal choline to broiler chickens (%)
An Evaluation of comparative effects of feeding synthetic and herbal choline on broiler performance, nutrient balance and serum activities - Image 4
Acknowledgement
The authors are thankful to M/S Ayurvet Ltd. Officials to sponsor the investigation. Similarly our thanks are also due to the authorities of KVAFSU and Dean, Veterinary College, Bidar for providing infrastructure facilities to conduct the research. 
References
1. AOAC.(1990): Official methods of analysis. 13thEdn. Association of Official Analytical Chemists.
2. Bhanja, S. K., Agarwal, S. K., Elangovan, A. V., Bhattacharyaya and Verma, J.(2007): Proceed. XXIV IPSACON, 25-27th April, Ludhiana: 109:5-49.
3. Daljeet Kaur, Sodhi Sandeep, Dwivedi P.N. and Nagra S .S. (2007):Proceed.XXIV IPSACON,25- 27th April, Ludhiana: 94:5-11and12.
4. Jadhav, N.V.(1997): Indian Vet. J., January. 74:19-21.
5. Jadhav, N .V.,Waghmare P. G., Madhavprasad C.B., Ramchandra B., Biradar U. S. and Honnappagol S. S. (2004): Indian J. Poult. Sci. 39(2): 175-178.
6. Mukharjee Kanai L. (1989): Medical Lab. Technoogy. Vol.3, 1st Edn., Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Co., New Delhi.
7. Narahari, D. (1992): Poult. Adviser. 25:37-38.
8. Sapcota D., Baruah K.K. and Upadhyay T.N. (2007):Proceed. XXIV IPSACON, 25-27th April, Ludhiana: 112:5-56.
9. Snedecor G. W. and Cochran W. G.(1980): Statistical methods.8th Edn Iowa State Univ. Press.Ames, Iowa-50010. 
Table-5. Percent Nutrient balance in feeding of synthetic and herbal choline to broiler chickens
An Evaluation of comparative effects of feeding synthetic and herbal choline on broiler performance, nutrient balance and serum activities - Image 5 
Table-6: Feed formulation & Cost of feed for evaluation of comparative effects of feeding of synthetic & herbal choline to broiler chickens.
An Evaluation of comparative effects of feeding synthetic and herbal choline on broiler performance, nutrient balance and serum activities - Image 6 
Table-7: Economic impact analysis for feeding of synthetic and herbal choline to broiler chickens (Benefit over feed cost)
An Evaluation of comparative effects of feeding synthetic and herbal choline on broiler performance, nutrient balance and serum activities - Image 7
This article was first published in the Veterinary World Journal, Vol. 1 (10): 306-309., 2008.
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Dr Sumeet Bagga
Jubilant Life Sciences Ltd.
28 de septiembre de 2012

I agree with Dr Mrinal

The manner in which trial is conducted renders the given information useless and futile
It is not mentioned that, at what dose, the synthetic choline is added
It is also not mentioned what is the dose of added essential amino acids specially methoine, which has great bearing on out come of trial. Even in mentioned formualtion there is no space left for the same

Such product does not find their places in mature market like EU or US where it is mendatory to show what is the active ingredient, mechanism of action, repeatability, traceability so on and so forth.

Rony Ahammad
20 de septiembre de 2012

wow nice article , ayurvedic or herbal for broiler a new domension good author for your new addition

Dr.B Barman
Suguna Group
20 de septiembre de 2012
I do agree with Dr Mrinal's justifications. More over if you see the production parameters i.e. FCR and body weight at culling in the trial groups are not encouraging.
Dr. Mrinal Kumar Sharma
Jubilant Life Sciences Ltd.
19 de septiembre de 2012

Herbal substitutes of choline have been found to be unable to replace synthetic choline wholely from poultry diets. This is primarily because choline has both structural and functional role. The structural role of choline in the body of the animal is one which cannot be done by functional mimics like the herbal alternatives.
To give an analogy, take the example of sweetners, sugar is the real thing and is necessary in all structural carbohydrates because of its 6 carbon ring but sweetners can replace much of the sweetening needs of sugar. But if your diet is hypoglycaemic, you cannot avoid sugar and expect same performance.
Breeding companies give clear guidelines as to how much choline should be present in the diet but very often farmers and feed manufacturers are found offering twice as much of choline and getting benefits. this is because of the functional role of choline which includes methionine replacement. at that level, choline methionine and betaine are almost interchangeable in the poultry diet.
this is also the scope of the herbal mimic because some choline some methionine and may be some betaine (if the farmer does use betaine) can be replaced in the feed by using herbal alternatives provided it is economically feasible.

Abdelhalim
19 de septiembre de 2012
I would like to know under what conditions (livestock, climate etc) was done this study?
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