ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of ginger meal (Zingiber officinale) as a

replacement diet on growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood profile, microbial load and the feed cost-benefit ratio of broiler chicken. One hundred and twenty (120) day old broiler chicks (arborical) were used. They were divided, randomly, into 5 treatment groups designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 comprising twenty-four birds each and further subdivided into three replicates (3 birds/replicate). Each group was fed one of 5 formulated diets containing ginger meal at levels of 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.2g/100kg, for eight weeks in a completely randomized design. At the termination of the experiment, three birds per treatment were selected and used for the evaluation of growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood profile, and microbial load. The results showed that replacing some vitamins with ginger at moderate (T3: 0.1 g/100 kg) inclusion significantly (P<0.05) improved the growth parameters such as weight gain per kg, higher feed conversion efficiency and utilization, carcass quality and yield, and growth morphometrics evaluated better than the low (T2) and higher (T4, T5) inclusions. The result of the microbial load showed 100% elimination of Total Lactobacillus Count (TLC), Total Escherichia Count (TEC), Total Salmonella/Shigella Count (TSSC) and Total staphylococcus count (TSC) in the ceacum of the broiler fed with ginger supplemented diets (T2, T3, T4, and T5) compared with non-ginger diet (T1). Total Fungal Count (TFC) was, completely, cleared at T5. In the gizzard, Total Protozoan Count (TPC) was 100% eliminated in T5, TEC were significantly reduced by 52.59%, 66.79% and 61.49% in T3, T4, and T5, respectively, while TSSC, TSC and TFC in the gizzard showed resistance to the ginger included diets. The TLC and TEC in the duodenum were, significantly (P<0.05) reduced as the inclusion levels were increased. TPC was significantly (P<0.05) reduced by 62.47%, 62.47%, 75.05% and 93.80% in T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively, while the ginger included diets did not affect the total count of salmonella, shigella and fungi resident in the duodenum of the birds. The cost for producing a kilogram of broiler meat with 0.1g/100kg ginger inclusion was significantly low (which indicate a better cost-benefit ratio), with higher revenue generation and gross margin. It can be concluded that ginger could be an alternative growth promoter for antibiotics, and can also be used to promote growth, survival rate, improve feed utilization, with better carcass quality when included at a moderate dose of 0.1g/100kg. It is, therefore, recommended for use in formulating poultry diet for optimal production and better cost- benefit ratio.