Harnessing of Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) Pomace Powder on Growth Response and Haematological Indices of Sonali Chickens

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Tomato pomace, a processing by‐product rich in lycopene and polyphenols, has not yet been systematically evaluated as a functional dietary supplement for Sonali chickens in Bangladesh. Objective This study assessed the dose‐dependent effects of dried tomato pomace powder (TPP) as a dietary additive on the growth performance, feed efficiency, carcass traits, haematological indices and economic returns of Sonali chickens under tropical conditions in Bangladesh. Methods A total of 180, one day‐old Sonali chicks were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments, T 0 (basal diet), T 1 (basal diet + 2% TPP), T 2 (basal diet + 4% TPP) and T 3 (basal diet + 6% TPP), with three replicates of 15 birds each, and reared for 63 days at the Central Poultry Farm, HSTU, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. Results The T 3 group achieved the highest final live body weight, the greatest weight gain and the most efficient feed conversion, followed by T 2 , T 1 and T 0 ( p < 0.05). Carcass weight and breast, thigh and drumstick yields were significantly higher in T 3 . Blood analysis showed significantly lower total cholesterol and LDL together with higher HDL in the T 3 group. The economic analysis indicated that T 3 generated the highest net profit per bird, differing significantly from T 0 ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Supplementing the diet with dried TPP at 6% significantly improved growth performance, carcass quality, lipid metabolism and financial returns in Sonali chickens, indicating that it is a viable, low‐cost functional feed supplement for tropical poultry production systems.