author(s)
DK Chaudhari, Sachin Gautam, VK Singh, Ruma Devi, KD Singh, SP Singh, S Tewari and S Rao

abstract
Three hundred commercial straight run, day old Ven Cobb 400Y chicks were divided into six groups with 5 replicates of 10 birds in each to assess the efficacy of herbal mixture, exogenous enzymes and butyric acid on their performance. The chicks were placed on basal diet with no supplement in negative control (NC) and basal diet supplemented with antibiotics, alcoholic extract of 0.5% herbal mixture, 0.5% herbal mixture (alcoholic extract) + 0.1% butyric acid, 0.5% herbal mixture (alcoholic extract) + 0.03% exogenous enzymes and combination of 0.5% herbal mixture (alcoholic extract) + 0.03% exogenous enzymes + 0.1% butyric acid in PC, HE, HEB, HEE and HEBE groups, respectively. The results of the analyzed data showed that DM and CP digestibility coefficient of herbal based non-antibiotic feed additive groups were similar to NC and PC group birds. Drawn weight yields were not affected by any additive supplements. The abdominal fat was significantly (P<0.005) lower in HEB and HE group birds as compare to NC and PC groups. Profit/bird live weight, benefit cost ratio and profitability of HEB group was significantly (P<0.05) better than NC, but (P<0.05) lower to PC group. It was concluded that, supplementation of alcoholic extract of 0.5% herbal mixture along with 0.1% butyric acid had no adverse effect on nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics; however, profitability was higher than negative control birds.