Vol. 9, Special Issue 1 (2024)

The study in the text was carried out in broiler chickens to investigate the inclusion of black pepper (Piper nigrum) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) at graded levels (0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% black pepper; 1.0%, 2.0% and 3.0% coriander) either alone or in combination as an alternative to body weight (g). A 42 day feeding trial followed by metabolic trial was conducted under standard feeding and managemental conditions on 360, day old Vencobb broiler chicks randomly divided into 10 treatment groups (T₁-T₁₀) with three replicates of 12 chicks each. The feeding was done as per standards of 'ICAR (2013)'. Significant effect of black pepper and coriander powder alone or in combinations was observed on overall feed intake, live body weight, body weight gain. The statistical analysis of data revealed highly significant (p<0.01) effect of feeding of black pepper and coriander on body weight at II to VI weeks and non-significant effect at I week. Further, the comparison of means at II week for different treatment groups revealed highest body weight in T₆ group which was though significantly higher from T₁, T₂, T₅, T₇ and T₈ but was comparable with T₃, T₄, T₉ and T₁₀ in statistical terms. In III- and IV-weeks highest body weight was observed in T₆ group which was significantly higher than all other treatment groups. In V- and VI-weeks highest body weight was observed in T₆ group which was comparable with T₄ but significantly higher than rest of treatment groups.