Comparative efficacy of liver tonics (LIV100-Amorvet) on production performance of commercial broilers

Introduction

Liver health is pivotal to the overall performance and well-being of poultry. The liver plays a central role in metabolism, detoxification, bile secretion, and the regulation of vital nutrients such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. In commercial broiler production systems, hepatic function is often challenged due to elevated metabolic demands, exposure to dietary toxins, and stressors including rapid growth and environmental variability. Consequently, dietary supplementation with liver tonics has emerged as a promising approach to enhance growth performance, feed conversion efficiency, and general health status in broilers. Traditional Ayurvedic medicine, a time-honored Indian system, offers a repertoire of herbal liver tonics and growth promoters with significant potential. These phytogenic formulations have demonstrated immunomodulatory effects, bolstering the immune response of birds against infectious agents and physiological stress. Such interventions contribute to improved toxin tolerance, decreased morbidity and mortality, enhanced adaptability, and ultimately, improved productivity in poultry farming. Several investigations have assessed the efficacy of both herbal and synthetic liver tonics in poultry production. Herbal liver supplements, typically composed of hepatoprotective and antioxidant-rich phytoconstituents, have demonstrated positive effects on liver function, nutrient assimilation, and immune modulation. In addition, emerging evidence indicates that these supplements contribute to improved gut health by enhancing intestinal morphology and enzymatic activity, thereby facilitating efficient digestion and feed utilization. However, disparities in formulation composition, biological efficacy, and economic viability among commercially available liver tonic preparations underscore the need for further systematic research. Such studies are essential to identify the most effective and practical liver tonic solutions for integration into commercial broiler nutrition programs. The present study was conducted to evaluate the comparative efficacy of two liver tonic formulations-one commercially available product and a newly developed herbal liver powder (Amorvet-Liv 100)-on the production performance of commercial broilers. The objectives of the study were to: 1. Assess the impact of liver tonic supplementation on broiler growth performance and feed conversion efficiency. 2. Evaluate the effects of liver tonic on blood biochemical profiles as indicators of liver health. 3. Examine gut morphology to understand the role of liver tonic in nutrient absorption and digestive efficiency. 4. Determine the economic benefits of using liver tonics in commercial broiler production.

By addressing these research questions, this study aims to provide insights into the role of liver tonics in optimizing broiler production and improving profitability for poultry farmers.

Materials & Methods

Study Area

The biological trial was conducted at Sree Sai Poultry Solutions, a recognized poultry research facility located in Nildoh (Pannase)-Mangrul Road, Tq. Hingna (District), Nagpur, India. The facility is situated 25 km from Nagpur Veterinary College, ensuring proximity to veterinary support and research expertise.

Experimental Design

The study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of two liver tonic formulations on broiler performance Basal diet + Commercial liver tonic @ 1.0 kg/ton T2 Basal diet + Amorvet-Liv 100 powder @ 1.0 kg/ton All diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous, formulated to meet commercial broiler nutrient requirements as per NRC (1994) guidelines.

Housing and Management  Birds were raised under a deep litter system with uniform environmental conditions.  Adequate floor space, ventilation, and drinking space were maintained across treatments.  Standard brooding, temperature regulation, and lighting schedules were followed.  Mortality was recorded daily, with feed conversion ratio (FCR) adjusted accordingly.

Diet and Feeding Management

 A mash diet was formulated for each phase, with no synthetic or herbal choline supplementation in the control diet.  Treatments T1 and T2 received either a commercial liver tonic or Amorvet-Liv 100 at 1.0 kg/ton of feed.  Feed intake and refusals were recorded weekly, with body weight measurements taken at specific intervals.

Vaccination and Medication

Economic Evaluation: Cost of production and

European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF).

Laboratory Analysis

 Blood samples (three birds per replicate) were collected on days 22 and 42 and analyzed using an automated blood analyzer (Mindray BS-120, China).  Histological examination of the duodenum was conducted using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining.

Statistical Analysis

 Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 2022) following a completely randomized design (CRD).  One-way ANOVA determined significant differences among treatments, with mean comparisons using Duncan's Multiple Range Test at P<0.05.

Results

Feed Intake

The feed intake of commercial broiler chickens across different dietary treatments is presented in Table 1. The inclusion of liver tonic in the diet significantly improved feed intake during the 12-22 days, 0-22 days, and 0-42 days growth phases (P<0.05). However, feed intake did not differ statistically during the pre-starter (0-11 days) and finisher (23-42 days) phases. Birds in the control group exhibited lower feed intake in the finisher phase compared to liver tonic-supplemented groups.

Body Weight and Weight Gain

The body weights recorded at different growth stages are shown in Table 2, while Table 3 presents weight gain at various phases. Initial body weights were similar across treatments. However, birds supplemented with liver tonic exhibited significantly higher (P<0.01) body weights on days 11, 23, and 42 compared to the control group. The liver tonic-supplemented groups did not show any significant differences in body weight between the two test diets. Weight gain followed a similar trend, with liver tonic-fed birds achieving significantly higher gains (P< 0.001) across all growth phases.

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)

The FCR, calculated based on body weight gain and total body weight, is presented in Tables 4 and5. The FCR (feed intake per unit of body weight gain) differed significantly during the 0-11 days, 23-42 days, and overall 0-42 days (P< 0.05), while no significant differences were observed during 12-22 days. Similarly, FCR based on total body weight showed significant differences (P<0.05) in all phases. Birds receiving liver tonic demonstrated improved FCR, indicating better feed utilization efficiency compared to the control group. Average Daily Gain, Survivability, and European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) Average daily gain, survivability, and EPEF values for all treatment groups are summarized in Table 6. The daily weight gain was significantly higher (P<0.001) in birds receiving liver tonic, with no statistical difference between the two supplemented groups. Survivability, although not statistically different, was highest (99.33%) in the Amorvet-Liv 100 group, followed by the commercial liver tonic group (98.67%) and the control (97.33%). The EPEF, a key indicator of production efficiency, was significantly improved (P<0.001) in liver tonic-fed birds. The Amorvet-Liv 100 group exhibited the highest EPEF, followed by the commercial liver tonic group, while the control group had the lowest value.

Blood Biochemical Parameters

The blood biochemical profiles measured on days 22 and 42 are presented in Tables 7 and8. The values for serum protein, creatinine, uric acid, SGOT, and SGPT remained within normal physiological ranges and did not show significant differences among treatments (P>0.05). These results indicated that liver tonic supplementation did not have any adverse effects on liver or kidney function. Gut Morphology: Morphological observations of the duodenum on day 42 are shown in Table 9 and Figures 123. Birds in the control group exhibited reduced villus height, villus width, and crypt depth, along with a lower goblet cell population. In contrast, liver tonic-supplemented groups demonstrated improved gut morphology, with significantly (P<0.05) higher villus height and crypt depth. The histological improvements in the supplemented groups contributed to enhanced digestion and nutrient absorption. The Amorvet-Liv 100 group showed slightly better villus width than the commercial liver tonic group, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Discussion

The present study demonstrated the beneficial effects of liver tonic supplementation on broiler chickens' growth performance, feed efficiency, and gut health. The significant improvements in feed intake and weight gain observed in the liver tonic-supplemented groups are consistent with previous findings, which suggest that hepatoprotective agents can enhance metabolic activity, support detoxification processes, and improve nutrient absorption. These effects collectively contribute to improved overall performance in broilers. The results of the present study agree with those reported by Babu et al. (1992) [2] , Narahari (1992) [13] , Prajapati (1997) [16] , Samarsinghe (2002), Kalorey et al. (2005) [10] , Singh et al. (2009) [21] , Went and Natsir (2013) [14] , Surai (2015) [24] , and Sharma et al. (2017) [19] , who all observed significant improvements in body weight following supplementation with various herbal liver tonics. [20] reported that body weight increased significantly (P<0.01) in liver tonic-supplemented groups compared to the control. Similarly, Somvanshi et al. (2020) [22] found that the growth rate was significantly higher (P<0.01) in groups supplemented with an herbal liver stimulant at doses of 6, 9, and 12 mL/25 chicks/day. El-Damrawy et al. (2023) [8] observed that the adverse effects of aflatoxin B1 on body weight gain were mitigated by supplementing broiler diets with silymarin and choline chloride. Supporting these findings, Tedesco et al. (2004) [25] reported improvements in blood biochemistry parameters in broilers fed exclusively on milk thistle-based diets. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly improved in the liver tonic-supplemented groups, indicating enhanced feed utilization. This finding is consistent with previous studies reporting that herbal liver tonics optimize hepatic function, thereby improving digestion and nutrient absorption efficiency. The results of the present study are in agreement with those reported by Ma et al. (2005) [12] , Kumar et al. (2005) [11] , Singh et al. (2009) [21] , and Sharma et al. (2017) [19] , who found that supplementation with polyherbal liver tonics improved broiler performance in terms of feed efficiency and livability. The improved European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) observed in our study further supports the economic viability of incorporating liver tonics into broiler diets. Notably, no mortality was recorded in any of the treatment groups throughout the experimental period. These findings are consistent with the observations of Castro et al. (2011) [4] , Reis et al. (2012) [17] , and Sharma et al. (2017) [19] . Sonkusle [22] also observed significantly improved (P<0.01) FCR in groups supplemented with an herbal liver stimulant at 6, 9, and 12 mL/25 chicks/day compared to the control. The improved feed utilization may be attributed to the active herbal constituents of Superliv liquid, including Andrographis paniculata, Boerhaavia diffusa, and Picrorhiza kurroa, which have been reported to enhance digestion and nutrient absorption (Yusuf et al., 2014; Chithambaran & Devid, 2014; Alexander et al., 2008) [26,5,1] . In layer birds, Lonkar et al. (2016) concluded that supplementation with the herbal liver tonic Superliv liquid at 10 mL/100 birds/day was beneficial in improving performance parameters, particularly feed efficiency. Similarly, El-Damrawy et al. (2023) [8] observed that the adverse effects of aflatoxin B1 on feed intake, feed efficiency, and mortality rate in broilers were mitigated by the inclusion of silymarin and choline chloride in aflatoxin B1-contaminated diets. Blood biochemical parameters, including serum protein, creatinine, uric acid, SGOT, and SGPT, remained within normal physiological ranges and showed no significant differences among the treatment groups. These findings confirm that the tested liver tonics did not exert any adverse effects on liver or kidney function. Consistent with the present findings, El-Damrawy et al. (2023) [8] reported that supplementation of broiler diets with liver tonics such as silymarin and choline chloride significantly (P<0.05) improved AST and ALT activity, while significantly reducing creatinine (P<0.05) and uric acid levels (P<0.01). Similar effects on blood biochemistry were observed by Tedesco et al. (2004) 25] in broilers fed exclusively on milk thistle-based diets. Sonkusle et al. (2011) demonstrated that Superliv liquid supplementation at 10 ml/100 chicks/day resulted in a significant (P<0.01) reduction in serum SGPT, SGOT, and creatinine levels, along with a significant (P<0.01) increase in serum protein levels. Similarly, Debnath et al. (2015) observed that plasma concentrations of total protein and the activities of AST and ALT were comparable across all treatment groups when broilers were supplemented with Superliv liquid at 20 mL/100 birds/day, AV/SSL/12 at 10 mL/100 birds/day, AV/SSL/12 at 15 mL/100 birds/day, Xlivpro at 500 g/tonne of feed, or Superliv premix at 500 g/tonne of feed. Additionally, Hajare et al. (2020) [9] confirmed that the polyherbal liver tonic Superliv Gold liquid had no detrimental effects on serum ALT, ALP, AST, or creatinine levels, supporting its safety for use in broiler birds. Siddiqui et al. (2017) found that supplementation with Livavit® at 1 mL/L of drinking water significantly (P<0.01) decreased serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels compared to the control. Similar results were also reported by Paul et al. (2010) and Debnath et al. (2014) [6] . Histological analysis revealed that liver tonic supplementation enhanced gut morphology, evidenced by increased villus height and crypt depth, features associated with improved nutrient absorption efficiency. These findings suggest that the performance benefits of liver tonics may be partly attributed to their positive impact on gut integrity. Furthermore, Sonkusle et al. (2011) investigated the hepatoprotective effects of Superliv liquid at a dosage of 10 mL/100 chicks/day and reported only mild congestion and negligible degenerative changes in the liver and kidneys of treated broilers, in contrast to more pronounced alterations observed in the control group. Overall, the results indicate that both liver tonic formulations were effective in enhancing broiler performance. Among the two, the Amorvet-Liv 100supplemented group demonstrated slightly superior outcomes compared to the group receiving the commercial liver tonic.

Conclusion

The study findings confirm that liver tonic supplementation significantly enhances growth performance, feed efficiency, and gut health in broiler chickens. Both commercial liver tonic and Amorvet-Liv 100 demonstrated comparable efficacy, with slight advantages observed in the Amorvet-Liv 100 group. The results suggest that liver tonics play a crucial role in optimizing poultry production, improving feed utilisation, and increasing economic returns. The inclusion of a liver tonic in commercial broiler diets is recommended for better growth performance, survivability, and production efficiency.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgmentsThe authors express gratitude to Aminorich Nutrients B.V. for funding the study and to Sree Sai Poultry Solutions for providing research facilities. Special thanks to Dr. Mukund Kadam and Dr. Mahesh Bhondge for their technical guidance and monitoring of the trial. The authors also acknowledge the laboratory staff and farm assistants for their support in conducting the study.

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