title: Evaluation of Emblica officinalis fruit powder as a growth promoter in commercial broiler chickens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted to evaluate the dietary addition of Emblica officinalis (Amla) fruit powder as a growth promoter in commercial broiler chickens.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experiment was conducted on 135 commercial broiler chicks (Ven-Cobb 400 strain) divided into three groups with three replicates of 15 chicks each. Three treatment groups were as follows - T1: Basal diet as per BIS standards; T2: Basal diet supplemented with 0.4% of E. officinalis fruit powder; and T3: Basal diet supplemented with 0.8% of E. officinalis fruit powder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average body weights at the end of the 6(th) week were significantly higher (p<0.05) in groups T2 and T3 compared to group T1. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kg live weight production were similar among the treatment groups. The net profit per bird was the highest in group T2 (Rs. 19.22/bird) followed by group T3 (Rs. 17.86/bird) and the lowest in group T1 (Rs. 14.61/bird).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of the present study, it was concluded that dietary addition of E. officinalis (Amla) fruit powder had a positive effect on growth performance and net profit per bird in commercial broiler chickens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Banaskantha, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Banaskantha, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bhagwat
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Banaskantha, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pawar
authors.affiliation: Livestock Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Banaskantha, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Prajapati
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Banaskantha, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Banaskantha, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Makwana
keywords: Emblica officinalis; broiler chickens; feed conversion ratio; growth performance