EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF ETHIOPIAN PEPPER (XYLOPIA AETHIOPICA), CLOVES (SYZYGIUM AROMATICUM) AND THEIR COMPOSITE ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of Ethiopian pepper (Xylopia aethiopica), clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and their composite on the growth performance of broiler chickens. Three hundred and sixty unsexed Ross broilers were used for the study. Four experimental diets were formulated for starter (0-28 days) and finisher phases (29-56 days); Diet 1 was the control without Phytogenic supplementation, Diet 2 (supplemented with 1% Ethiopian pepper (EP)), Diet 3 (supplemented with 1% Clove (CL)) and Diet 4 (supplemented with 1% mix of equal quantity (0.5 % each) of Ethiopian pepper and clove (EPCL)). Each treatment was replicated 6 times with 15 birds per replicate. Growth response was measured weekly for the starter and finisher phases. Data obtained were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance using SAS 2000 and significant means were separated using Tukey’s test in the same software. At day 28, dietary supplementation of EPCL increased (P<0.05) live weight (LW) (660.34 g), weight gain (WG) (599.66 g) with improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) (0.98). At day 56, LW and WG were also increased (P<0.05) with EPCL supplementation. It was concluded that EPCL can be supplemented in the diet of broilers for increased performance.