EFFECTS OF FEEDING GRADED LEVELS OF GARLIC (Allium sativum) ON THE PERFORMANCE AND HAEMATOLOGY OF FINISHER BROILER CHICKENS IN MUBI, ADAMAWA STATE

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding graded levels of garlic (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%) as a natural antibiotic on growth performance (Initial live weight, final live weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake, total feed intake and feed conversion ratio), haematology (packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, meam corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, red blood cells, white blood cell, platelets, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocycytes ), blood metabolites and electrolytes (total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, creatinine, potassium, sodium and blood urea nitrogen) of finisher broilers. A total of 80 finisher broilers chickens of 4 to 5 weeks with average weight of 1.50kg were used in a completely randomized design of 4 treatments replicated 4 times with 5 birds per replicate (4 x 4 x 5). The experiment spans for over 28 days. Data collected were subjected to standard ANOVA procedures using the software package SPSS 25.0.
Significant means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results showed that all growth performance parameters, except initial weight, was significantly (P<0.05) different among the treatment groups. However, haematological parameters, except haemoglobin and red blood cells,
were significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01 & P<0.001) affected by garlic supplementation. Additionally, all blood metabolites and electrolytes, except albumin and blood urea nitrogen were significantly (P<0.05
& P<0.001) influenced by garlic supplementation. The 1.0% garlic group showed the most favorable results, with improved growth, haematology, blood metabolites and electrolytes. It can be concluded that garlic can be used as a natural antibiotic to promote growth performance, haematology, and blood
metabolites in finisher broilers, with 1.0% being the optimal supplementation level.