author(s)
Kartik Bhatt, Anil Kumar, Bidhan Chandra Mondal, Anil Kumar and Aruna Kuniyal

abstract
A feeding trial was conducted to study the effects of adding various concentrations of dried bael leaf powder on growth performance, nutrient utilization, carcass traits, haemato-biochemical parameters, and meat quality of broiler chickens. One hundred and twenty chicks were split into four groups (T₁ group was fed with basal diet which served as control, while groups T₂, T₃ and T₄ are fed with 0.5%, 1.5% and 2.5% bael leaf powder inclusion in the basal diet, respectively), and were subjected to 42 days feeding trial. Over the period, their growth, nutrient intake, and blood parameters were monitored. The results indicated that the inclusion of bael leaf powder did not significantly affect growth performance, nutrient utilization and haematological parameters in broiler chickens. Meat composition analysis showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in protein content of breast and thigh muscles, while a decreased fat content of the breast muscles in the T₄ group. There was also a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides concentration, and significant (p<0.05) increase in total protein, albumin and globulin concentration in T₄ group followed by T₃ group. Therefore, it is concluded that incorporation of 1.5 to 2.5% bael leaf powder in the basal diet may improve the blood biochemical profile and meat quality in broiler chickens.