Growth Response of Broiler Chickens to Dietary Inclusion of Garlic as a Natural Feed Additive
Abstract
A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the nutritional and growth response of broiler chickens fed diets containing graded levels of garlic (Allium sativum) powder as a natural feed additive. A total of 120-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, replicated thrice with ten birds each in a completely randomized design. The treatments (T1-T4) contained garlic powder at 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% inclusion levels, respectively. Growth indices (feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed cost per kilogram gain, and mortality) were recorded for both the starter and finisher phases. Results from the starter phase showed no significant (p>0.05) differences in weight gain, feed intake, or FCR among treatments, although birds fed garlic-supplemented diets exhibited numerically better performance and reduced mortality. However, at the finisher phase, garlic inclusion significantly (p<0.05) improved final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and FCR, with the best performance observed at the 2.0% garlic level. Final body weight increased from 2334.28 g/bird in the control to 2883.59 g/bird in birds fed 2.0% garlic, while FCR improved from 2.42 to 1.92, indicating enhanced nutrient utilization. Feed cost per kilogram gain and mortality +were lowest in birds fed 2.0% garlic, suggesting better economic efficiency and survivability. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of garlic powder up to 2.0% in broiler diets improved growth performance, feed efficiency, and livability, particularly during the finisher phase. Garlic can therefore serve as a cost-effective, natural alternative to synthetic growth promoters in broiler production systems.
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References
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