Author(s): DG Singare, VK Munde, PM Kekan, SN Rindhe, MG Nikam and SV Londhe

Abstract: An experimental investigation was conducted to assess the effects of powdered ginger (Zingiber officinale) as a natural dietary supplement on the growth and carcass attributes of broiler chickens. Eighty-one commercial broiler chicks of the Ven Cobb Strain were randomly distributed into four treatment groups, including a control group, with three replicates of fifteen chicks each. Throughout the six-week experimental period, the chicks were reared in a deep litter system under uniform care and management practices, with ad libitum access to water and feed. Four experimental diets were formulated as follows: T₀, comprising the standard broiler ration in accordance with BIS (1992) standards, served as the control group; T₁ contained the standard broiler ration supplemented with 0.5% ginger powder; T₂ included the standard broiler ration supplemented with 1% ginger powder; and T₃ consisted of the standard broiler ration supplemented with 1.5% ginger powder. The treatment groups, T₀, T₁, T₂, and T₃, exhibited cumulative average body weights of 2063.33 g, 2193.67 g, 2243.67 g, and 2187.67 g, respectively, at the conclusion of the sixth week, indicating significant differences (p<0.05) in body weight. However, the average weekly body weight gain did not exhibit significant differences among the dietary treatments. In comparison to treatment groups T₁ (3579.71 g) and T₃ (3543.48 g), with the lowest in T₂ (3443.73 g), group T₀ exhibited significantly greater average feed consumption at 3690.11 g (p<0.01). Treatment group T₂, supplemented with 1% ginger powder, demonstrated a notably higher feed conversion ratio compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Among the treatment groups, T₂ (1706.66 g) showed the highest carcass weight, followed by T₃ (1652.53 g), T₁ (1647.80 g), and T₀ (1531.41 g). Broilers in the T₂ group exhibited significantly greater carcass weight compared to those in groups T₀, T₁, and T₃ (p<0.05). The treatment group T₂, supplemented with 1% ginger powder, exhibited the highest edible meat percentage (76.08%), followed by T₃ (75.53%), T₁ (75.11%), and T₀ (74.22%). Broilers in the T₂ group demonstrated significantly increased giblet weight compared to those in groups T₀, T₁, and T₃ (p<0.05). The research findings suggest that supplementing broiler diets with 1% ginger powder enhances broiler performance, as evidenced by improvements in cumulative average body weight, feed conversion ratio, and carcass weight.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i3Sb.699