INFLUENCE OF FEED SUPPLEMENTATION WITH
CANNABIS SATIVA ON QUALITY OF BROILERS CARCASS
Rifat Ullah Khan*, F. R. Durrani1,
Naila Chand1 and Haseeb Anwar
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of
Agriculture,
Faisalabad; 1Department of Poultry Science, NWFP
Agricultural University,
Peshawar,
Pakistan
Abstract
A project was planned to study the effect of feeding powdered seeds of
Cannabis sativa on the carcass quality
of broiler chicks. A total of 160 day-old broiler chicks of equal weight were
randomly divided into four equal groups A, B, C and D. Each group was further
divided into four replicates with 10 chicks in each replicate. Dried crushed
Cannabis sativa seeds were added to
the feed of groups B, C and D at the rate of 5, 10 and 20% of offered feed
respectively, while group A served as a control. The studied parameters were
body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), dressing percentage,
mortality and economics. After an experimental period of 42 days, the data were
analyzed statistically. It was revealed from the results that body weight gain
was significantly higher (P<0.05), while feed intake was significantly lower
(P<0.05), in group D compared to the control. FCR was significantly better in
birds of group D compared to controls. Differences in dressing percentage and
mortality were non significant between the treated and control groups. Return
per chick (in rupees) was significantly higher in group D compared to groups A
and B (P<0.05). It was concluded from these results that seeds of
Cannabis sativa have remarkable impact
on growth of broiler chicks and can help in alleviating feed expenditure
incurred on raising broiler chicks.
Key words:
Cannabis sativa,
Broilers, Weight gain, Feed intake, FCR.