Effect of Aqueous Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Extract on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Economy of Feed Conversion of Broiler Chicken

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effect of aqueous ginger extract (AGE) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and economy of feed conversion of broiler chickens. A total of 192 day-old Marshal broiler chicks were randomly allocated to six treatments each consisting of four replicates with eight birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The treatments were tagged AGE0, AGE25, AGE50, AGE75, AGE100 and AGE125 whereinthe birds of the different groups were administered aqueous ginger extract orally at 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 ml/L, respectively,via drinking water. The experiment lasted for 49d. The results showed that the AGE supplementation had positive effects (P<0.05) on total feed consumed, final BW and feed conversion ratio. The aqueous ginger extract supplementation level of 127.49 ml/L maximized daily weight gain while FCR was maximized at an inclusion level of 88.79 ml/L. The AGE supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on the digestibility of DM, CP, EE and NFE. However, digestibilityof crude fibre were affected (P<0.05) by AGE.Aqueous ginger extract also had effect (P<0.05) on total cost of feed consumed and cost/weight gain. Cost of feed per kilogram was not influenced by the treatment. These results suggest that AGE in drinking water of chickens could replace synthetic antibiotics and could be regarded as natural feed additives in poultry diets.