American Journal of Zoological Research, 2018, Vol. 6, No. 1, 8-11 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajzr/6/1/2 ©Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/ajzr-6-1-2 Effect of Pearl Millet ( Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) and Garlic Meal (Allium sativum L.) on Growth Performance of Broiler Chicks Ufele Angela Nwogor * , Ogbumuo Prisca Ndidiamaka Zoology Department, Faculty of Biosciences Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State Nigeria *Corresponding author: ufeleangel@yahoo.com Abstract An experimental research was carried out to evaluate the effect of pearl millet as an energy source and garlic meal as an additive on the growth performance of broiler chicks. A total of 60 three-week old broiler chicks were used in the experiment. The broiler chicks were randomly selected into four experimental groups of five birds in each cage. Each treatment was composed of three replicates over a period of 10 weeks in a completely randomized design. The control group (group A or T1) were fed diet without any replacement and supplementation (basal diet); group B (T2) were fed diet containing pearl millet (replacing maize totally) without any supplementary garlic meal; group C (T3) were fed diet containing supplementary garlic meal at 2.0g/100g of diet; group D (T4) were fed diet containing pearl millet (replacing maize totally) and supplementary garlic meal at 2.0g/100g of diet. Data collected were analyzed using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P<0.05 level of significance. The results showed that diet T1 contained 2861.28ME kcal/kg, diet T2 contained 2605.92ME kcal/kg, diet T3 contained 2843.48ME kcal/kg and diet T4 contained 2588.12ME kcal/kg. The birds in group D (T4) gained the highest weight (1.44kg). It is therefore concluded that the total replacement of maize with pearl millet and inclusion of garlic meal as an additive may be used for economical and efficient production of broilers. Keywords: broiler chicks, pearl millet, garlic and growth Cite This Article: Ufele Angela Nwogor, and Ogbumuo Prisca Ndidiamaka, “Effect of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) and Garlic Meal (Allium sativum L.) on Growth Performance of Broiler Chicks.” American Journal of Zoological Research, vol. 6, no. 1 (2018): 8-11. doi: 10.12691/ajzr-6-1-2. 1. Introduction Increased poultry production is one of the surest and quickest ways of bridging the animal protein in-take gap in developing countries of the world. Although the task of bridging this protein in-take gap appears formidable in view of the present economic and technological constraints besetting our livestock industry, poultry keeping in Nigeria has been one of the sources of animal protein to the ever-growing Nigeria population, making significant contribution to human nutrition and economic development [1]. The growth of the national economy has been significantly affected by poultry [2]. The poultry sector constitutes more than 57% of the total livestock production in Nigeria [1]. Many people have gone into poultry production either producing egg or meat or both [3]. Broiler production is one of the keys in bridging the protein in-take gap, since broiler chicken meat has lower iron contents. Therefore, it is accepted as healthy and nutritious when compared to beef and mutton. Poultry is a collective name given to a group of birds reared or hunted for useful purposes. They are domesticated birds kept for egg or meat production which include chickens (domestic fowls), turkey, ducks and geese [4]. Poultry is the quickest source of meat and its production process involves the least hazardous and arduous in relation to other livestock enterprise [4]. The quality of the broiler chicken meat mainly depends on the quality of the diet fed to the birds. Nutritive value of a specific feed or diet is the function of feed intake and the efficiency of extraction of nutrients from the feed during digestion [5]. Nutrient absorption by broiler chickens is a function of the amount of feed eaten and the nutrient levels in the diet. In broiler chicken production industry, cereal grains such as maize etc. make up the majority of the dietary ingredients and account for a large portion of metabolizable energy, protein and amino acids [6]. Maize (Zea mays, L.) is a staple food of great socio-economic importance in the sub-Saharan Africa of which Nigeria is inclusive. Maize accounts for the large proportion of about 45 – 55% of poultry feed because of its high conversion factor into meat, milk and egg compared to other cereal grains [7]. Presently, Nigeria produces less than the market demand which has contributed to the increase in the cost of production of broiler chicks, therefore, any effort to substitute maize in poultry feeds will significantly reduce the cost of production [8]. It is based on this fact that pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and garlic powder which are readily available to farmers in Nigeria were considered to be used in broiler chicken feed as a source of energy and an additive