Production Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Mortality and Cost of Production of the Layer Chicken on Dietary Supplementation of Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)

Background: A feeding trial was conducted to find out the effect of aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) supplementation on production performance, nutrient digestibility, mortality and cost of production of the layer chicken. Methods: Two hundred and twenty five laying chickens of twenty two weeks of age were randomly divided in to five treatment groups having three replications of fifteen birds each i.e. T0 (basal diet without antibiotic growth promoter, AGP-negative control group), T1 (basal diet with AGP-control group), T2 (T0+1% aloe vera), T3 (T0+2% aloe vera) and T4 (T0+3% aloe vera). Result: There was significant (P less than 0.05) difference in the average feed consumption (g/hen/day), hen day egg production, hen housed egg production, egg mass production, dry matter metabolizability and nitrogen retention upon supplementation of aloe vera in the diet of layers. The feed conversion ratio in terms of feed intake (kg) per dozen of eggs was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in the control and 1% aloe vera supplemented groups as compared to the negative control group. Thus, it can be recommended that 1% aloe vera can be supplemented in the diet of layers as a herbal feed supplement.