Comparative effects of fresh and dry ginger as nutritional supplements on live-weight gain, carcass characteristics and meat quality of broiler chicken

Abstract Fresh and sundried ginger was given to broilers to compare the effect of sun drying on their efficacy as nutritional supplements. 180 broiler chicks of Abor-acre strain were divided into three dietary groups comprising of 60 chicks which were further subdivided into four replicates of 15 chicks per replicate. Three experimental broiler starter diets were formulated such that diet 1 (T1, control diet) and diet 3 (T3) contained no ginger. Diet 2 (T2) contained 0.5% sundried ginger meal. However, broilers placed on diet 3 (T3) were also offered a fresh equivalent of 0.5% sundried ginger through the drinking water. Feed and water were fed ad-libitum. Result showed that final live-weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected (P > 0.05) in the starter phase but cost feed consumed was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the ginger groups compared to the control group. In the finisher phase, live-weight, weight gain and cost per kilogram weight gain were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the fresh ginger group compared to dry ginger and control groups, and cost of total feed intakes were significantly (P  0.05) by fresh or dry ginger treatment. Therefore, supplementation of broilers with fresh ginger rhizomes through the drinking water was more efficacious in promoting growth performance than inclusion of sundried ginger in the feed.