Vol. 10, Issue 6, Part D (2025)

Author(s): Fardeen Shaikh, YB Kandalkar, VD Borkar and MU Tanpure

Abstract: A research trial was conducted during the year 2022-2023 at the Poultry Unit of the Veterinary Polyclinic and Artificial Insemination Center, under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India. A total of 120 day-old chicks were randomly assigned to different dietary treatments. The control group (T?) was provided a standard basal diet, while the experimental groups T?, T?, and T? received the same basal diet supplemented with tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) leaf powder at levels of 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%, respectively. The analysis of carcass traits revealed a statistically significant variation in dressing percentage across the different treatment groups. The highest breast meat yield was observed in the T? group, with statistically significant differences noted among the treated groups. While minor variations were recorded in the giblet and drumstick percentages relative to carcass weight across the various treatment groups, these differences were not statistically significant. Thigh meat yield was found to be highest in group T?. The treatments had no significant impact on the proximate composition of both breast and thigh muscles. The benefit-cost (B:C) ratio for the control and treatment groups T?, T?, T?, and T? was recorded as 1.13, 1.16, 1.20, and 1.17, respectively.