Growth performance, quantitative analysis and economics of broiler chickens as influenced by herbal dietary additives as alternative growth booster

The range of synthetic medications and growth promoters fed to broilers is expensive, negatively impacts the health of the birds and has long-term side effects. Refocusing their efforts, poultry farmers are looking for herbal extracts that have therapeutic properties and may be used safely to boost productivity. This study was conducted to assess the effect of Garlic (Allium sativum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) on the growth performance of broiler chickens.

One hundred and forty day old broiler chicks were distributed randomly into seven treatment groups viz., T₀ (Control: basal diet), T₁ (basal diet + 0.5% Garlic), T₂ (basal diet + 0.5% Ginger), T₃ (basal diet + 0.5% Cinnamon), T₄ (basal diet + 0.25% Garlic + 0.25% Ginger), T₅ (basal diet + 0.25 % Garlic + 0.25% Cinnamon), T₆ (basal diet + 0.25% Ginger + 0.25% Cinnamon) having 70 chicks in each group with 10 replicates.

The results (0-6 weeks) of present study indicated that supplementation of a combination of 0.25% garlic and 0.25% ginger to the basal diet of broilers (T₄) significantly improved overall average daily gain (ADG), better feed conversion ratio (FCR) and broiler performance efficiency index (BPEI) and body weight (BW) of broilers followed by diet supplemented with combination of 0.25% ginger and 0.25% cinnamon (T₆) compared to control and other groups. Highest profit per bird (Rs. 25.17) and benefit cost ratio (1.59) was observed in T₄ followed by T₆. It can be concluded that dietary supplementation of garlic (0.25%) along with ginger (0.25%) has the potential to improve growth performance of broiler chickens.