EFFECT OF TURMERIC, GARLIC, GINGER POWDER AND THE BLENDS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF RABBITS

Abstract

Garlic, ginger and turmeric as phytogenic additives and natural growth promoters can be potential alternatives for common artificial growth promoters like antibiotics. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of turmeric, garlic, ginger powder and their blends on growth performance of weaner rabbit. Forty-eight weaner rabbits (8 weeks) were randomly allotted into eight dietary groups designated T1 to T8 in a completely randomized design. The T1 contained 0% phytobiotic, T2, T3 and T4 contained 0.6% turmeric (Tr), garlic (Ga) and ginger (Gn) powder, T5, T6 and T7 contained combination of 0.3% each of Tr+Ga, Tr+Gn and Ga+Gn while T8 contained 0.2% each of the three phytobiotics. Data were collected for all the growth parameters and feed efficiency ratio. Result showed significant (p< 0.01) effect of phytobiotics on final body weight of the rabbits. Group fed 3gGaGn utilized diet better with complementary final weights of 2057.00g, total weight gain (1109g) and average daily weight gain (13.21g) when compared to rabbit group fed 6gGn (1339.50g) and 3gTrGa (1318.67g) as well as lowest total weight gain and average daily weight gain of 444.47g and 5.29g respectively. Rabbits fed 6gGa and 3gTrGn consumed larger average quantity of feed per day (65.42 and 65.18) respectively compared to other dietary groups. Nevertheless, rabbit group fed 6gGn consumed significantly (p<0.01) lower quantity of feed (50.82g) daily while rabbits fed 3gGaGn utilized feed more efficiently with efficiency of 0.21. It was concluded that rabbits fed blend of 3gGaGn had higher growth indices as well as better feed efficiency ratio, the blend is therefore recommended to reap beneficial effects that is greater than the sum of their separate effects.