Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) on the Performance and Health of Vanaraja Birds

The investigation of Vanaraja birds on a diet supplemented with black pepper (Piper nigrum) powder” was carried out to study the productive performance, carcass traits, mortality, performance index, blood parameters, and economics of vanaraja birds. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) day-old vanaraja chicks were randomly divided into five treatment groups of thirty birds each, namely T1 (control), T2, T3, T4, and T5, with 5 replications per treatment having 6 birds in each replicate following a randomized block design. Standard broiler diet (0–28) days and finisher ration (29–63 days) were provided to the birds. Black pepper powder was supplemented at the rates of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 g/kg feed in T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively. Body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion efficiency were recorded on a weekly basis, while feed intake was noted on a daily basis. 5 birds from each treatment were killed on the 63rd day in order to evaluate the carcass, and 5 birds from each treatment were selected for collecting blood samples for hematological and biochemical blood analysis. Black pepper supplementation at 0.25 g/kg of basal diet resulted in significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight. Feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 (black pepper @ 0.25%). The dressing and liver weight were better in the T2 group. The performance index was better in the T3 group. Also, blood constituents of cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides were found to be lower in T2 groups. The net profit per kg live weight of vanaraja was highest in T1 compared to treatment groups. Based on the above findings, dietary supplementation of black pepper powder at the rate of 0.25 g/kg feed can be recommended under the agro-climatic condition of Nagaland.