EFFECT OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM) ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND haematological INDICES OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of garlic on growth performance and haematological indices of broiler chickens. A total number of 72-day-old chicks were allotted to four experimental groups in a completely randomized design, and fed graded levels (0g, 2g, 3g, and 5g) of garlic (Allium sativum) for eight weeks (56 days). The experimental groups which were designed as treatments T1, T2, T3; and T4, respectively were further replicated three times with six birds per replicate so that each group had a total of 18 birds. Treatment one which contained 0% garlic served as the control. Growth parameters that were determined were final live weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. At the end of the feeding trial, blood samples were collected from the birds of each treatment group to evaluate the blood profile. The results showed that there was a significant (P< 0.05) difference in growth performance. There were significant (P<0.05) variations in all the parameters evaluated except packed cell volume and red blood cell. Results on haematological parameters of the broiler chickens showed a general increase in PCV, Hb, WBC, RBC and MCHC of broiler chickens fed garlic diets. Diet T4, had the best weight gains and feed conversion ratio. The current findings indicated that garlic can help in the development of strategies to mitigate disease outbreak in broiler production without any adverse effects on growth performance.