Effect of garlic powder, Moringa oleifera leaf powder and their combination on growth performance, carcass attributes and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens

The study aimed to investigate the effect of garlic, Moringa oleifera leaf powder and their combination on growth performance, carcass attributes and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. 180-day-old broiler chicks were raised for 42 days in six dietary groups including control (basal diet), T1-basal diet + 0.5% garlic; T2-basal diet + 1 % garlic; T3-basal diet + 1 % moringa leaves; T4-basal diet + 2% moringa leaves and T5-basal diet + 1% garlic + 2% moringa leaves. The results indicated significant effect of treatments on body weight (BW) gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of broiler birds fed 1% garlic, 1-2 % moringa or their combination. Compared to all treatment groups, the birds of control group consumed more feed. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in dressing yield %, thigh and wing % in treatment groups T2, T4 and T5 compared to control group. The liver of birds was significantly (P<0.05) enlarged in T2 group treated with 1% garlic. The blood biochemical parameters in garlic and moringa supplemented groups did not differ with the control group, except there was lowering in the level of cholesterol in T4 and T5 group. The study suggested that supplementation of garlic, moringa alone or in combination exhibits beneficial in improving growth performance, feed utilization and carcass attributes in broiler chicken.