GROWTH PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKS FED GRADED LEVELS OF DIETARY GARLIC (Allium sativum L.)

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the growth indices of broiler chicks fed graded levels of dietary garlic. A total of two hundred and ten (210) four week-old mixed sex broiler chicks were used for the experiment that lasted for four weeks. The birds were grouped into five groups with three replicates in a completely randomized design. A broiler starter diet was formulated to which graded levels of garlic meal was incorporated at 0.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 10.25 g/kg to give the various treatment groups T1 (Control), T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Feed intake, body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality were the response criteria. Feed intake was influenced by dietary garlic during the first week of the experiment. Chicks fed diet with inclusion of 7.5g.kg had the lowest feed intake (19.68g/bird/day). Weekly body weight and body weight gain were not influenced (p>0.05) by dietary garlic during the starter phase. It was concluded that garlic can be included in broiler starter diets up to 10g/kg as a growth promoter.