ABSTRACT

A total of 96 Arbor Acre broiler chickens were used in this experiment that lasted for 56 days, and the effect of dietary supplementation of garlic, turmeric and bitter kola powder on growth performance, organ characteristics, carcass yield, haematology profile, serum biochemistry, ceacum and crop microbial load, and economic efficiency of broiler chickens were evaluated. The experimental design was Completely Randomised Design (C.R.D.).The experimental diets contained T, (0% of test ingredients), T, (0.5% garlic), T, (0.5% turmeric), and T, (0.5% bitter kola) powder diets respectively. Twenty four broiler chickens were randomly assigned to each treatment diet and comprises of 3 replicates of 8 birds each. Growth performance in regards with average weight gain, average daily· weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds that received turmeric treated diet than birds on control diet and other treatments diets. The dressing percentage and dress weight were significantly (P>-0.05) lower in bitter kola treatment group. The heart, crop and lungs were significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds on coatrol diet than birds on treatments diet groups. The blood profile (RBC, Hb and PCV) were significantly (P><0.05) higher in birds fed with turmeric and garlic treated diets while White Blood Cell was significantly (P>0.05) lower in birds on turmeric and bitter kola treatment groups. Serum cholesterol of birds on T» (garlic treated diet) was significantly (P>0.05) reduced than other treatments diet. Ceacum and crop microbial load were significantly low in turmeric and bitter kola treatments groups. Economic efficiency was significantly (P>0.05)  improved on birds that received turmeric treated diet than in birds on control diet and other treatment groups. The result of this experiment revealed that turmeric can be used in the diet of broiler chicken at 0.5% dietary level to enhance gut health, feed conversion efficiency and growth performance of broiler chickens. Garlic at 0.5% can be incorporated to broilers diet to obtain high quality chicken meat with low cholesterol, thereby promoting growth, and without compromising economic efficiency of broiler production.