EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTED GINGER MEAL AS PHYTOBIOTIC FEED ADDITIVE ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF FINISHED BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

A 28-day experiment was carried out to examine the effect of supplemented ginger meal (GM) as phytobiotic additive in the diets of broiler finisher chickens in terms of feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio. A total of 96(4-weekold) broiler chickens were assigned randomly to 4 dietary treatments each replicated thrice (8 birds per replicate). Four experimental diets were formulated with the control (D1) without GM (0%). Bird’s group on diets D2, D3 and D4 were fed with GM supplemented at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% levels, respectively. The feed intake of birds on 0.2% diet was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to birds on 0, 0.1 and 0.3% diets. Birds on 0.1 and 0.3% diets had similar (P>0.05) feed intake but significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to control. The weight gain of birds on 0.2% diet was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to those on 0, 0.1and 0.3% diets. The weight gain of birds on 0.1 and 0.3% diets were similar (P>0.05) but significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to control. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of birds on 0.2% was better (P<0.05) compared to those on 0, 0.1 and 0.3% diets. The FCR of birds on 0.1% and 0.3% diets were similar (P>0.05) but significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to the control diet. Feed cost (N) per kg gain increased with increased level of GM supplementation in the diets. It is concluded that the feeding of broiler finisher chickens with GM supplemented at 0.2% improves performance and can be a viable alternative to antibiotic feed additives in the diets of broiler finisher chickens