Effect of dietary white ginger powder on the productivity on broiler chickens

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine if dietary white ginger (Zingiber officinale) powder can improve the performance of broiler chickens. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) day old abor acre plus strain of broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four (4) dietary treatments of 30 birds each with three replicates of ten (10) chicks per replicate. Four experimental diets were formulated in such a way that control diet (T1 ) contained no white ginger additive. Birds in group T2 , T3 and T4 were fed diets containing 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 % white ginger respectively. The feeding trial was carried out for 56 days and parameters on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, haematological parameters, serum biochemicals and production cost were evaluated. Growth parameters and nutrient utilization were not significantly difference across the dietary treatment. All value obtained or serum biochemical and haematological parameters were within the normal range for a healthy broiler chicken. Considering the feed cost per weight gain, profit per bird, and cost to benefit ratio, broiler birds in the group fed 0.30 % white ginger powder was more efficient. It is concluded that supplementation of white ginger up to 0.30 % had no negative effect on broiler chickens performance when added as feed additives.