Economic evaluation of phytobiotic supplementation in broiler chicken

Introduction

Economic efficiency is a major determinant of profitability in broiler production, as feed cost constitutes the largest share of total production expenses (Mehta and Nambiar, 2008) [1] . The extensive use of antibiotic growth promoters to enhance performance has been restricted due to concerns related to antimicrobial resistance and food safety, prompting the search for natural and economically viable alternatives (Raza et al., 2019; Lillehoj et al., 2018) [2,3] . Phytobiotic feed additives derived from medicinal plants have gained importance owing to their growth-promoting, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and digestive-enhancing properties, which can positively influence production efficiency and economic returns (Wickramasuriya et al., 2024) [4] . Among phytobiotics, Curcuma longa and Phyllanthus niruri have been reported to improve feed utilization, growth performance, and health status in broiler chickens (Jagadeeswaran et al., 2011; Ayalew et al., 2022; Pasaribu et al., 2023) [5,6,7] . Improved feed conversion and reduced health-related losses associated with these herbs can contribute to better income over feed cost and overall profitability. However, studies evaluating the economic impact of their combined supplementation at different inclusion levels are limited. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess the economic efficiency of dietary supplementation with a phytobiotic mixture containing Phyllanthus niruri and Curcuma longa in broiler chickens, with emphasis on production cost, feed efficiency, and profitability.

Materials and Methods

The economic evaluation of broiler production was carried out to assess the cost-effectiveness of dietary supplementation with a phytobiotic mixture containing Phyllanthus niruri and Curcuma longa. The analysis was performed following standard poultry economic assessment procedures to allow reproducibility of results.

Cost components

The variable costs considered in the present study included:  Cost of day-old broiler chicks,  Cost of feed consumed during the experimental period,  Cost of feed additives, including the phytobiotic mixture and antibiotic growth promoter.

Feed cost was calculated based on the actual quantity of feed consumed per bird in each treatment group and prevailing market prices during the study period. The cost of phytobiotic supplementation was computed according to the inclusion levels used in each treatment.

Income calculation

Income was calculated based on the live body weight of broilers at the end of the experimental period and the prevailing market price per kilogram of live broiler weight. Economic returns were expressed as:  Total production cost per bird,  Cost per kilogram of live weight gain,  Gross income per bird,  Net profit per bird,  Income over feed cost (IOFC).

Excluded costs:

Fixed costs such as housing, equipment, depreciation, labor, electricity, and interest on capital were excluded from the economic analysis, as these facilities were provided by the institute and remained constant across all treatment groups. Similarly, recurring costs such as brooding bulbs and miscellaneous management expenses were not included, since they were identical for all treatments and did not influence comparative economic outcomes.

Results

The techno-economic parameters adopted for the economic evaluation of broiler production are presented in Tables 1,2 and 3 Parameters such as chick cost, feed cost, additive cost, stocking density, and marketing age were maintained uniformly across all treatment groups to ensure a valid economic comparison. [8] reported higher net profit in broilers supplemented with turmeric, while Enyenihi et al. (2023) [9] observed improved economic efficiency at optimal turmeric inclusion levels. Similarly, Sabdoningrum et al. (2023) [10] reported that Phyllanthus niruri supplementation enhanced income over feed cost, with diminishing returns at higher inclusion levels.

Overall, the results indicate that supplementation of a 0.5% phytobiotic mixture of Phyllanthus niruri and Curcuma longa provides the most economically viable option, maximizing profitability and supporting sustainable, antibiotic-free broiler production.

Conclusion

Based on the economic evaluation, dietary supplementation with a phytobiotic mixture containing Phyllanthus niruri and Curcuma longa significantly influenced the profitability of broiler production. Among the different inclusion levels tested, supplementation at 0.5% resulted in the highest net profit, benefit-cost ratio, and lowest cost per kilogram of live weight. Although higher inclusion levels improved growth performance, the increased cost of additives reduced overall economic efficiency. The findings demonstrate that moderate inclusion of phytobiotic mixtures can effectively replace antibiotic growth promoters while enhancing profitability. Therefore, supplementation of a 0.5% phytobiotic mixture is recommended as a cost-effective and sustainable strategy for antibiotic-free broiler production.

Conflict of Interest

Financial Support

References

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