THE IMPACT OF TURMERIC RHIZOME ON BROILER CHICKEN PERFORMANCE

Abstract

The increasing human population in the tropics, including Nigeria, has increased the demand for poultry and livestock products to satisfy the animal protein needs of the people. The basic aim of the study is to find the effects of graded levels of raw and cooked turmeric rhizome on the performance of broiler chickens.: The experiment was carried out in the Poultry Unit of Punjab Chicks Lahore. This experimental study selected 120 healthy broiler chickens as the study subjects. These chickens were carefully chosen from a reputable hatchery to ensure weight and health status uniformity. The birds were then randomly divided into different treatment groups to avoid bias in allocating experimental units. Each treatment group received a specific dietary regimen, with graded levels of raw and cooked turmeric rhizome supplementation. Broiler chickens supplemented with turmeric, both in raw and cooked forms, exhibited improved growth performance compared to the control group. The turmeric-treated birds showed an average weight gain of 200 grams more than the control group throughout the 6-week study period. Turmeric supplementation did not significantly affect feed intake, with all groups consuming approximately 2.5 kilograms of feed per bird. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly better in the turmeric groups, with an average FCR of 1.8, while the control group had an FCR of 2.2. It is concluded that turmeric may have a positive impact on growth performance, carcass traits, hematological parameters, and mortality rates. This discussion underscores the importance of considering turmeric as a natural dietary supplement with the potential to enhance both the economic and health aspects of broiler production.