EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FEED ADDED TURMERIC (Curcuma longa) ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS

This study was planned to investigate the effect of different levels of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on the overall performance of broiler chicks. Four experimental rations designated as A, B, C and D having 0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% Turmeric (Curcuma longa) was fed to 160 broiler chicks, randomly distributed into 16 replicate, so as to have 4 replicate per treatment and 10 chicks per replicate. The experiment lasted for 35 days. Average weight gain, feed consumption, feed efficiency, dressing percentage, breast weight, thigh weight, mortality and economics were used as a criteria of response. Organ weight including heart, liver and gizzard was also recorded. The mean body weight gain per chick was 646, 547, 734 and 592 g (P 0.05) and the average weight of heart was 8.2, 8.6, 9.0 and 8.0 g (P>0.05) for groups A, B, C and D, respectively. The mean gizzard weight was 26, 27, 29 and 27 g (P>0.05); the average cost of feed per kg of body weight gain was Rs. 34, 33, 30 and 32. The cost of feed per kg weight gain was highly favourable in treatment C (5 g) as compared to other treatments indicating economic viability of using Turmeric (Curcuma longa) as anti-fungle and anti-oxidant @ 5 g/kg of feed. Mortality was 2.5%, 0%, 0% and 2.5% (P>0.05) for groups A, B, C and D, respectively. It was concluded that the use of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) as feed additive at level of 0.5% enhances the overall performance of broiler chicks. Research to investigate the effect of different levels of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) in layers and breeders is recommended.