Effect of Dietary Garlic (Allium sativum) Supplementation as Feed Additive on Broiler Performance and Blood Profile

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of incorporating garlic (Allium sativum) powder, as a growth promoter in broiler feed on growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood profile. Sixty three one day-old commercial broiler chicks (Cobb) were reared in an open sided poultry house and divided into three groups of 21 birds each. The groups were assigned to three diets containing (0, 3 and 5%) garlic powder. Feed and water were offered ad libitum till the termination of the trial after 42 days. Growth performance parameters and blood parameters were measured. Diet with 3% level of garlic significantly (P < 0.05) increased feed intake (3051.6 g), body weight gain (1688.7 g), body weight (1733.8 g) and achieved the best efficiency of feed utilization (1.81 kg feed for one kg meat). Dressing percentage showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the various treatments. The highest breast weight was attained by feeding 3% of garlic (250g) and the lowest weight was attained when feeding 5% level (155g). No significant difference (P > 0.05) in both bursa and thymus weights between the different treatments. Spleen weight decreased significantly (P < 0.05) by feeding diets containing 3% (1.01g) and 5% (1.23g) garlic powder compared to 0% level (1.67g). The different levels of garlic has no significant effect (P > 0.05) on total red blood cells, packed cells volume, total white blood cells and the differential count of white blood cells including neutrophile, eosinophile, monocytes and lymphocytes. It is concluded that the incorporation of garlic as feed additive at 3% level significantly enhanced growth and performance of broiler chicks without any side effects as detected by blood profile.