EFFECT OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM), SYNBIOTIC, ORGANIC ACIDIFIER AND ANTIBIOTICS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND FAECAL MICROBIAL COUNT IN PULLETS

Abstract

A total of 240 point of cage (12 weeks old) Isa brown pullets were divided into 5 treatments in a completely randomized Design (CRD), and each treatment was further sub-grouped into 4 replicates consisting of 12 birds for 8 weeks. The dietary treatments were; control, basal diet + garlic powder, basal diet + synbiotic powder, basal diet + organic acidifier, basal diet + antibiotic. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Data generated were subjected to one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Feed intake of birds on organic acid and synbiotic were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those on
garlic. Feed intake record for organic acidifier and synbiotic was not significantly (p>0.05) different from that of the Control and synthetic antibiotics. No significant difference was observed for weight gain and feed conversion ratio across the treatments. The population of Pseudomonas specie (x104 cfu/ml) was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in birds fed diets containing synthetic antibiotics. Significantly (p<0.05) higher population of Pseudomonas specie (x104 cfu/ml) was recorded for the group on organic acidifier. This study concluded that garlic could reduce feed intake in pullets and
synthetic antibiotic completely eradicated Pseudomonas species in the pullets.