Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) supplementation on productional traits in chicken (Gallus domesticus).

Garlic is well known since ages for medicinal properties. However, there are few reports regarding its effect on poultry production. The present investigation describes the effect of garlic supplementation in feed on productional traits in broiler chicken. The 45 day old broiler chicks were divided randomly into 3 groups, each consisting 15 birds. Group I birds served as control and were fed on conventional diet. Group 11 and III birds were supplemented with garlic at the rate of 1.5% and 3.0% respectively for a period of 8 weeks. Productional traits like feed consumption, body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency/ratio were recorded. There was no significant difference in feed intake in garlic supplemented groups as compared to control. However, the body weight gain in garlic supplemented groups was slightly higher than control group, and better feed conversion efficiency/ratio in garlic treated groups was observed as compared to untreated group. The supplementation of garlic has slightly better effect on growth and feed conversion efficiency in broiler chicken ..