Effect of Dietary Garlic, Ginger and Their Mixture on the Performance of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Ginger and garlic are spices used in various human foods and medicine. The effect of garlic, ginger and their mixture on broiler performance was investigated in a 56-day feeding trial using broiler chicks. Four experimental broiler starter and finisher diets were formulated such that the diets contained 1.0% each of ginger (T₂), garlic (T₃) and garlic-ginger mixture (0.5 gingers + 0.5garlic) (T₄), respectively. The control (T₁) diet contained none of the test materials. The diets were randomly assigned to four treatment groups of 30 day-old broiler chicks, each replicated 3 times with 10 birds per replicate. The design was a complete randomized design (CRD). Broiler starter and finisher diets were fed for 0-28 and 29-56 day of age, respectively. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in growth, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of the birds fed the different diets and control. Cost of feed consumed was significantly (p<0.05) higher in garlic and ginger treatment groups than in the control. Birds fed the garlic diet consumed less feed, gained more weight and had better feed conversion ratio than the control. It is concluded that 1.0% dietary inclusion of garlic, ginger or their mixture in broiler diets had no negative effect on performance. Further research on environmental and health benefits of the products on broilers is worthwhile.