The effects of a dietary supplement of ginger powder (Zingiber officinale) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails

Abstract

Abstract Traditional herbs such as ginger were an excellent feed additive to improve poultry health in the event that Vietnam’s poultry population increased recently. The study was to evaluate the effect of ginger powder supplemented on average daily gain, feed consumption rate, and quality carcass of quails. A total of 180 Japanese quails at 11 days of age were allotted into a completely randomized design with three treatments and three replicates consisting of 20 birds for each. The experiments consisted of a control diet (no ginger powder added) and 2 diets supplemented with ginger powder at 0.1% and 0.2%. The birds were fed and watered ad libitum throughout the experiment. The results showed a linear improvement in body weight gain and feed conversion as the ginger powder was increased from 0 to 0.2% of the diet (P<0.01). The carcass traits, including dress weight and breast and thigh weight of quails, were improved in the treatment of 0.2% ginger (P<0.01). It could be concluded that 0.2% ginger powder in the diet increased growth performance of quails and was recommended for Japanese quail’s performance.