Response of Broiler Chicks to Diets Containing Mixture Garlic and Ginger Essential Oils as Natural Growth Promoter

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of broiler chicks fed on graded levels of mixture garlic and ginger essential oils as natural growth promoter alternative to antibiotic. Experimental parameters covered growth performance, carcass dressing percentage, subjective meat quality and economical appraisal. The experimental design used the complete randomized design (CRD). A total number of (84),7days-old, 130gm ini􀆟al weight unsexed AborAcer strain of broiler chicks were randomly divided into four experimental groups with three replicates, each of seven chicks. The first group (A) fed on basal diet without feed additives (control group), the other groups B,C and D were fed basal diets supplemented with different mixture of essential oils at levels of 200gm/ton(100gm ginger+100gm garlic),400gm/ton(200gm ginger+200gm garlic)and 600gm/ton(300gm ginger +300gm garlic). The basal diet was formulated to meet the nutrients requirements of broiler chicks according to (NRC, 1994). Experimental diets were fed for 6weeks.The results indicated that there were no significant (p˃0.05) differences among all treatment groups in the values of body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass dressing percentages and subjective meat quality attributes. No mortality was recorded throughout the experimental period. The economical evaluation showed that levels of dietary mixture garlic and ginger essential oils were economical feasible, but the values of profitability ra􀆟o(1.24) of group D (600gm/ton at mixture garlic and ginger essential oils)was the highest of the tested groups.