Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Amla (Phyllanthus emblica Linn.) Leaf Powder on Growth Performance, Nutrient Utilization and Profitability of Japanese Quail
Mayank Rawat
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India.
Bidhan C. Mondal
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India.
Manju Lata *
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India.
Sudhir Kumar
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263145, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Amla, or Indian gooseberry, (Phyllanthus emblica Linn.) fruit primarily contains antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties and leaves contain phenolic compound and alkaloids such as phyllantine and phyllantidine. A feeding trial was conducted to discern the influence of dietary inclusion of amla (Phyllanthus emblica) leaf powder on growth performance, nutrient utilization and economical production of Japanese quail. A total number of 180- day-old Japanese quail chicks were randomly distributed into five treatments of 36 Japanese quails per treatment with three replicates in each in a completely randomized design. Five treatments included control (T1) in which standard diet without any supplementation was fed, while in T2, 0.5% Amla fruit powder (AFP) with standard diet was fed and in T3, T4 and T5 with 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0% Amla leaf powder (ALP) incorporation respectively with standard diet. Results showed that 1.0% dietary inclusion (T4 group) emerged as the most economical treatment, as it recorded the lowest cost per kilogram body weight gain (116.76 ± 0.42) along with significantly higher net profit (42.28 ± 0.06). It can be concluded that 1.0% dietary inclusion of amla leaf powder (ALP) being the most effective in improving growth rates, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility and desired economical production of the Japanese quail.
Keywords: Amla leaf powder, amla fruit powder, finisher diet, Japanese quail, starter diet, production cost