Effect of dietary Halquinol supplementation on the productive performances, carcass traits and blood profile of Sonali chicken

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of dietary supplementation of Halquinol on productive performances, carcass characteristics and hematological parameters of Sonali chicken. A total number of 72 Sonali chicks of 07 days old were divided randomly into 04 experimental groups occupying 03 replications in each groups among which four dietary groups were considered i.e. control group (T0), Halquinol @ 0.25g/ kg feed in group (T1); Halquinol @ 0.5g/ kg feed in group (T2); and Halquinol @ 1g/ kg feed in group (T3) respectively. Results indicated that body weight and body weight gain were increased significantly (P<0.05) in birds supplied with Halquinol @ 1g/ kg feed group (T3) compared to the other groups. Higher (P<0.05) feed intake and better (P<0.05) FE were also observed in group T3 compared to the other groups. This result also indicated that body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency were increased along with increasing dose of Halquinol. No significant (P>0.05) differences were found in dressing percentage, liver, heart and gizzard among the dietary treatment groups. However, the dressing weight, breast meat, thigh meat, and head weight was significantly (p<0.05) higher in birds supplied with Halquinol @ 1g/ kg feed group (T3) compare to control (T0) group. Present study revealed that hematological parameters, including Hb, PCV and ESR value of the birds of different groups does not differ significantly among the groups and it was within the normal range. Cost effective analysis of the experiment demonstrated that by using Halquinol @ 1g/ kg feed significantly (P<0.05) higher net profit than other dietary treatment groups and also highest profit over control (14.95Tk.). Based on the results of present study it may be suggested that supplementation of Halquinol can be used as a commercial growth promoter for the production of Sonali chicken.


Introduction
Poultry is a promising sector for poverty reduction in Bangladesh. For fulfilling the protein demand of human poultry industry plays an important role in Bangladesh (Islam et al., 2014). About 37% of the total meat production in Bangladesh contributes alone by poultry meat (Begum et al., 2011). The demand for meat is 7.05 million metric ton, and of egg is 16744 million in number. Each year the deficits of the meat is 0.9 million metric ton, and of the eggs is 4831.60 million in Bangladesh (DLS, 2016). The Sonali chicken first started rearing in 1996-2000 in Northern part of Bangladesh through SLDP (Smallholder Livestock Development Project) and PLDP (Participatory Livestock Development Project) is a cross-breed of Rhode Island Red (RIR) cocks and Fayoumi hens having similar phenotypic appearance of deshi chickens of Bangladesh (Uddin et al., 2015). In 2010 about 150.9 million Sonali DOCs were produced, representing about 35 percent of the country's total commercial broiler and layer production, it indicates the Sonali population is increasing gradually to meet the consumer demand (Huque, 2011). More or less about 65-70 percent of total cost is the feed cost of Sonali chicken production. For this, it is required to develop various effective feed at a reasonable price (Bunyan et al., 1977). To maintain the good health condition and feed efficiency of birds farmers often extensively uses antibiotics on feed that causes a great threat to the human being. Various research implemented to find the alternatives of antibiotics likes organic acids, prebiotics, probiotics, and plant extracts that provides similar results in the prevention and control of infectious diseases which finally promotes the growth enhancing action and improved feed efficiency (Wolfenden et al., 2007). Halquinol is very powerful non-antibiotic antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal feed additive or as a growth promoter in swine and poultry industry. Malabsorbtion syndrome is overcomed by using Halquinol as it has wide spectrum of activity and slows down peristalsis in the gut (Nischal et al., 2012). Halquinol is used mainly as an effective gut acting compound though gastrointestinal tract cannot absorb the halquinol. It is a triple acting antidiarrhoeal product effective against bacteria, fungi and protozoa. It offers minimum or no resistance in bacteria even on long-term use. By incorporating halquinol with feed at different levels is being used to overcome several challenges in modern poultry and swine farming, like microbial infections, and for growth promotional aspects, because of its broad-spectrum antimicrobial having antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal activities (Wojtowicz, 1984). So, Halquinol is a potential agent which may be successfully used as a non-harmful non-antibiotic growth promoter for the improvement of productive performances of Sonali chicken. Therefore, present study was designed to know the effect of dietary supplementation of halquinol on productive performances, carcass characteristics, hematological parameters & to evaluate the economic efficiency of using halquinol on Sonali chicken production.

Materials and Methods
A total of 72, 07 days old Sonali chicks were purchased from the Sale Centre of Polly hatchery limited, Joypurhat, Trade point Saidpur were equally and randomly divided and distributed into four dietary groups (T 0 , T 1 , T 2 and T 3 ) having three replications in each groups and each replication contains 6 birds. Group T 0 was considered as control and fed with only commercial ration and adlibitum fresh drinking water. Group T 1 was treated with supplementation of Halquinol at the rate of 0.25g/ kg feed and adlibitum fresh drinking water. Group T 2 was treated with supplementation of Halquinol at the rate of 0.5g/ kg feed and adlibitum fresh drinking water. Group T 3 was treated with supplementation of Halquinol at the rate of 1g/ kg feed and adlibitum fresh drinking water. At 07 days of ages, initial live weight of each bird was recorded just prior to separation. After weighing experimental birds were kept into separate bamboo made cage floor .Then their performance including live weight, feed intake and mortality were recorded weekly till the end of the experiment. After completing the experiment blood was collected and conducted the hematological tests (Hb, ESR and PCV). To determine the carcass characteristics a total of 12 birds were slaughtered and their carcass and organs were weighed. The experimental diet was provided into two phages (Sonali-mash starter and Sonali-mash grower), mash starter was provided 0 to 30 days and mash grower was days 31 to end day of experiment. The nutrient requirements (ME, CP, CF, EE, Ca, P, Lysine and Methionine) were satisfied as per requirement as recommended for Sonali chicken diet and also same for all treatment groups. Fresh and dried rice husk was used as litter at a depth 2-3 inch. After 5 weeks old litter was totally removed and new litter was provide as same depth. The litter was stirred one time per day from four weeks to upto end day of experimental period. One round tube feeder and one round drinker were provided in each pen. The feeder and drinker were fixed in such a way that the Sonali chicken were able to eat and drink conveniently. Feeders were cleaned everyday while waterers were cleaned every day at morning and afternoon. Experimental birds were vaccinated against Newcastle Disease (Ranikhet), Infectious Bronchitis and Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumboro) as per recommendation of the manufacturer. Strict bio-security was maintained to prevent the disease outbreak in the farm. Experimental birds were weighed weekly by using digital balance and their growth rate was measured. Blood was collected from the wing vein of the experimental birds and kept in sterile test tubes containing anticoagulant (EDTA). Then the hematological tests were performed. The birds were fasted for 8 hours prior to slaughter, but water was provided adlibitum. Two birds were randomly selected in each replication for slaughtering. After that removal of shank, head and skin. Finally evisceration was done manually to separate liver, spleen, heart, gizzard, and meat yield. Different organs weight such as head, heart, liver, gizzard, thigh meat and breast meat were taken by the electric balance at the end of the experiment. All data were analyzed by SPSS version-20 software by using one way ANOVA accordance with the principles of Complete Randomized Design (CRD). All values were expressed as Mean± SEM and significance was determined when (P<0.05). Mean was compared among the treatment groups by using Duncan test.

Body weight and body weight gain
Effect of Halquinol on body weight and body weight gain of Sonali chicken is shown in Tables 1 and 2. At the end of the experiment the birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 3 (793.3 ±3.47 g/bird) significantly highest (p<0.05) body weight was observed compare to supplied with Halquinol in group T 2 (743.4±3.00 g/bird), T 1 (718.3 ±0.95 g/bird) and control group T 0 (674.4 ± 4.82 g/bird) respectively whereas initial body weight was similar in all groups. The live weight of birds in 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th weeks did not significantly (P<0.05) vary among the treatment groups. But the live weight of 6 th , 7 th , 8 th and 9 th weeks there were a significant (p<0.05) differences among the treatment groups. Significant difference (p<0.05) in body weight gain was observed among the groups but in case of 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th weeks no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed among the birds of different experimental groups. The significantly highest body weight gain was found in group T 3 (716.0±3.64 g/bird) than other groups T 2 (665.9±2.71 g/bird), T 1 (640.9 ±0.92 g/bird) as well as lowest in control group T 0 (597.1±4.65 g/bird). Table 3 demonstrates the result of feed intake at different ages of Sonali chicken with different treatment groups. The feed intake of Sonali chicken in different dietary treatment during 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 6 th and 7 th weeks of age of experimental periods was almost statistically similar and the differences were insignificant (p>0.05). But the 5 th , 8 th , and 9 th of ages the feed intake of Sonali chicken in different dietary treatment during experimental periods were significantly (p<0.05) varied. At 5 th weeks of age significantly (p<0.05) highest feed intake was found in birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 3 (208.9±1.01g/bird), and lowest feed intake was found in birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 2 (206.0 ±0.40g/bird). Significantly (p<0.05) highest feed intake was found in birds at 8 th weeks of age supplied with Halquinol in group T 3 (289.3 ±3.70 g/bird), and lowest feed intake was found in control group T 0 (273.9 ±3.89 g/bird). At 9 th week of age significantly (p<0.05) highest feed intake was found in birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 3 (316.4 ±2.11g/bird), and lowest feed intake was found in control group T 0 (297.2±7.35g/bird). The cumulative feed intake was found highest in birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 3 (1697.9±4.31g/bird) compared to other groups T 2 (1692.2 ±3.78 g/bird), T 1 (1683.7±6.04 g/bird) and lowest feed intake was found in control group T 0 (1657.4±9.02 g/bird) for the whole experiment period.

Feed efficiency (FE)
The feed efficiency (feed intake in g/ weight gain in g) of Sonali chicken having different dietary treatments shown in Table 4. The feed efficiency of Sonali chicken in different dietary treatment during 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th weeks of experimental periods was almost statistically similar and the differences were insignificant (p>0.05). But the 6 th , 7 th , 8 th and 9 th weeks of ages the feed efficiency of Sonali chicken in different dietary treatment during experimental periods were significantly (p<0.05) varied. During 6 th , 7 th, and 8 th weeks of experiment, the feed efficiency was significantly higher (p<0.05) in control group T 0 than other groups. At 9 th weeks of age birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 1 had significantly highest (p<0.05) feed efficiency than all other groups. The cumulative feed efficiency of different treatment groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 3 (2.37 ±0.01) converted feed to meat most efficiently followed by birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 2 (2.54 ±0.01) , birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 1 (2.63±0.01) and control group T 0 (2.77 ±0.01).

Edible meat yield characteristics
Meat yield Characteristics of Sonali chicken supplemented with Halquinol is represented below in Table 5. Dressing percentage, liver, heart and gizzard weight did not significantly differed (p>0.05 among the experimental birds. However dressing weight, thigh weight, breast weight, head and shank weight were significantly higher in the Sonali chicken supplemented with Halquinol compare to the control group except the shank weight were similar incase of T 0 and T 1 groups. The significantly highest dressing weight was found in group T 3 (407.33±10.35 g) and lowest in control T 0 (353.33±3.71 g) group. It was seen that relatively the highest dressing percentage was observed in birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 3 (51.67±0.97%) than other treatment groups like T 2 (50.39±0.50%), T 1 (50.27±0.09%), and in group T 0 (50.03±0.03%) respectively. Liver weight maximum in T 1 treatment group and minimum in T 0 treatment group. Heart weight was similar among the dietary treatment groups while gizzard weight was maximum found in T 3 (26.67±1.76 g) treatment group and minimum in T 0 (22.67±0.67 g) treatment group. Breast meat weights obtained were significantly higher in the Sonali chicken supplemented with Halquinol compare to the control group. Relatively the highest breast meat weight was observed in birds supplied with Halquinol in group T 3 (116.00±2.31 g) than other treatments groups like in T 2 (105.33±1.76 g), T 1 (103.33±0.67 g) and T 0 (100.67±0.67 g) respectively. Thigh meat weight was significantly higher in the Sonali chicken supplemented with Halquinol compare to the control group and best result was found in the birds supplied with Halquinol 1g/kg feed. The head weight were significantly higher in the Sonali chicken supplemented with Halquinol compare to the control group and highest result found in the T 3 treatment group and lowest result found in the control group T 0 . It was also found that the shank weight of Sonali chicken on day 63 were significant, the relatively the heavier shank weight was observed in group T 3 and lowest shank weight was observed in control group T 0 and T 1 groups. Table 6 represents the effect of Halquinol on blood parameters of experimental Sonali chicken. It was found that Packed Cell Volume (PCV) was not significantly differed (P>0.05) among the different groups of Sonali chicken (26.00, 26.67, 27.67 and 27.00 % in T 0 , T 1 , T 2 and T 3 group, respectively). Hemoglobin (Hb) was 8.14, 8.16, 8.16 and 8.18 g/dl in T 0 , T 1 , T 2 and T 3 group, respectively which was not significantly (P>0.05) differed among the groups. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was not significantly differed (P>0.05) among the treatment and control groups and it was 8.07, 8.07, 8.07, and 8.07 mm in T 0 , T 1 and T 2 group, respectively.

Cost effectiveness of production
Cost effective analysis for Sonali chicken production fed on Halquinol showed in Table 7. At the end of the experiment total production cost per birds was Tk. 93.31, 94.54, 95.06 and 95.76 for control group (T 0 ), T 1 , T 2 and T 3 group, respectively. Compare to the control group total profit per birds of Sonali chicken were higher in group T 3 (Tk. 3.84 vs. Tk. 18.79) followed by the group T 2 (Tk. 12.24), and T 1 (Tk. 9.86) group. T 0 = Control, T 1 = Halquinol@0.25g/kg feed, T 2 = Halquinol@0.5g/kg feed, T 3 = Halquinol@1g/kg feed. The mean values with different superscript (a to d) within the same row differs significantly, at least (p<0.05). All values indicate mean ± Standard error of mean NS=Non significant, * statistically significant (P<0.05). T 0 = Control, T 1 = Halquinol@0.25g/kg feed, T 2 = Halquinol@0.5g/kg feed, T 3 = Halquinol@1g/kg feed. The mean values with different superscript (a to d) within the same row differs significantly, at least (p<0.05). All values indicate mean ± Standard error of mean NS=Non significant, * statistically significant (P<0.05).   Legends: T 0 = Control, T 1 = Halquinol@0.25g/kg feed, T 2 = Halquinol@0.5g/kg feed, T 3 = Halquinol@1g/kg feed. The mean values with different superscript (a to d) within the same row differs significantly, at least (p<0.05). All values indicate mean ± Standard error of mean NS=Non significant, * statistically significant (P<0.05). *Reference values (Jain 1993).

Discussion
Present study shows that Halquinol has a significant effect on the body weight and body weight gain of Sonali chicken and best result was found in the birds supplied with Halquinol 1g/ kg feed in group T 3 . It was also found that the average feed intake of Sonali chicken in different dietary treatment during experimental periods were significantly (p<0.05) varied and highest feed intake was found in the birds supplied with Halquinol 1g/ kg feed in T 3 group. In this study it was also found that Halquinol has a significant effect on the feed conversion efficiency of Sonali chicken. The birds supplied with Halquinol 1g/ kg feed (T 3 ) converted feed to meat most efficiently than other treatment groups. This result was observed may be due the antimicrobial property of the Halquinol. Halquinol has activity against a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and mycoplasmal organisms (Cosgrove and Baines, 1978). Among Gram-negative bacteria, it is effective against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus vulgaris (Cosgrove and Forster, 1980;Cosgrove et al., 1981).. Halquinol has