Scholarly Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 11(4), pp. 51- 61 November, 2021
Available online at http:// www.scholarly-journals.com/SJAS
ISSN 2276-7118 © 2021 Scholarly-Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Perfomance of Finisher Broiler Chickens Fed Varying
Levels of Garlic (Allium sativum) Powder in Sokoto,
Nigeria
Abdullahi, A.U.
*1
and Yakubu, D.
2
1, 2
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
Received: 4 October, 2021, Accepted: 14 November, 2021, Published: 25 November, 2021
This study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Animal Science,
Faculty of Agriculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto to evaluate growth performance of broiler
chickens fed graded levels of garlic (Allium sativum) in their diets. Using Completely Randomised
(CRD) set-up, a total of 200 marshal strain of broiler chicks were randomly divided in to (4) treatment
group of 50 birds each. Each group was divided in to 5 replicate of ten birds each. Oregano powder was
added over the top at 150, 300, 600 in Treatments 1, 2 and 3 respectively while 0g was used in Treatment
4 which served as the control. Standard management procedures were observed throughout the
experiment. Performance parameters monitored include feed intake, body weight, bodyweight gain,
feed conversion ratio and mortality. The experiment lasted for 49 days. Results on performance in the
finisher phase showed that all feed intake parameters recorded significant difference (p<0.05) and
showed a fluctuating trend with increase in Garlic powder in the treatments. FI was lowest in T3 (485.24)
and (69.32). Bodyweight parameters recorded nonsignificant difference (p>0.05) in this experiment but
were better (836.78) in T4 (0g Garlic). Body weight gain performance was significant (p<0.05) only in
BWGB and being better in T3 (600g Garlic). FCR performance was not significant (p>0.05) between the
treatments but was also better (1.19) in T3 (600g Garlic). Mortality was observed to be higher than the
10% acceptable highest mortality rate in T1 and T4. However, high mortality recorded in in T1 and T4
were probably due to heat stress at the period of the experiment. Based on the results, it is
recommended that garlic can be included in broiler diets at 600g/100kg diet for better performance.
Keywords: Broiler birds, Growth performance, carcass characteristics, level of garlic inclusion.
INTRODUCTION
Agriculture remains the pillar of Nigerian economy for
growth, development, poverty alleviation, contribution to
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment and income
generation (Philip et al., 2009). Poultry farming is the
raising of domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks,
turkeys, geese etc. for the purpose of farming meat or
eggs for food, Poultry are raised in great numbers, with
*Corresponding author’s e-mail: aauamin@gmail.com
chickens being the numerous and predominant (Deeb
and Amam, 2002), Poultry production has been
recognized as an important enterprise in economies of
developing countries. Its role in improving the nutritional
status and income of many small farmers and landless
communities has been recognized by various scholars
and rural development agencies; (Bambrige, 1988, FAO,
2006). The poultry industry has assumed greater
importance in providing employment opportunities and
animal food production in Nigeria (Mbansor, 2002). A
broiler chicken is any chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)