Comparative efficacy of synthetic and herbal emulsifiers in broiler chicken fed energy-restricted diet

The digestive system of young birds is very poor and inefficient in digestion and absorption of fat due to less lipase production and low rate of bile formation, which can be overcome by the use of exogenous emulsifier. This study aimed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of exogenous herbal and synthetic emulsifiers on growth performance, nutrients utilization, haemato-biochemical profile, and carcass quality in broiler chickens fed energy restricted diet during a 35-days feeding trial. 180 one day-old Cobb400Y chicks were assigned into four treatment groups, each with three replicates. T0(control) received a basal diet without emulsifier, group T1 received a basal diet with 3% less metabolizable energy, group T2 received a basal diet with 3% less metabolizable energy + synthetic emulsifier @250 g/tonne of feed and group T3 received a basal diet with 3% less metabolizable energy + herbal emulsifier @ 250 g/tonne of feed. Supplementation of exogenous emulsifier enhanced growth performance and economics of broiler chicken. These was no significant effect of exogenous emulsifiers on dry matter, crude protein, calcium and phosphorus retention in broiler chickens, however, retention of ether extract improved significantly. Haematological parameters, carcass characteristics and overall acceptability of meat of broiler chicken fed diets supplemented with emulsifiers in energy restricted diets didn`t differ. Emulsifier supplementation didn’t change villi length and crypt depth. It was concluded that decrease in 3% metabolizable energy of broiler chicken diet depressed growth performance and economics of broiler chicken whereas, dietary supplementation of emulsifier @ 250 g/ tonne of energy restricted based broiler feed improved the growth performance, ether extract utilization, intestinal morphology and economics without affecting haemato-biochemical profile, and carcass quality of broiler chickens.