Authors : R. Suriya, I. Zulkifli and A.R. Alimon
Abstract: This study was undertaken to investigate the growth performances of fast growing birds fed with garlic, cinnamon and tumeric powder. Since, uses of antibiotics as growth promoter have been banned by the European Union, herbs or products containing plant extracts are using as alternative feed supplements in animal production. Garlic (Allium sativum), turmeric (Curcuma Longa) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) have been widely used as medicinal and growth promoter purposes in animals. However, the information of the effect of these herbs on broiler production, especially under tropical environmental condition is still inadequate. About 240 days old chicks were randomly allocated to 10 treatment groups consisting of 3 replications of 8 chicks in each pen. The experimental groups were formulated consisting of non-supplemented (control) and supplemented diets. The groups were assigned to receive treatment diet as follows; garlic, turmeric and cinnamon were incorporated at three concentrations; 0.25, 0.5 and 1% into the basal diet (mash form). The overall body weight gain of broiler chickens fed with 0.25% turmeric, 0.5% garlic and 0.5% cinnamon found to be significant different compared with the control group. From the result of present study, it could be suggested that the use of powdered garlic (Allium sativum) as feed additive at level of 0.5% as it proved be significantly different in body weight gain and FCR compared with the control group.
R. Suriya, I. Zulkifli and A.R. Alimon, 2012. The Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Herbs as Growth Promoter in Broiler Chickens. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 346-350.