Performance and cost analysis of broiler chickens fed 1% diatary inclusion of four different medicinal plants

The study was conducted to evaluate the performance, health and cost benefits of broiler chickens fed 1% of different diets of four selected medicinal plants. An hundred and fifty pieces of day old broiler birds were purchased from CHI farm in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. These birds were randomly assigned to five treatment groups in a completely randomized design involving group A= birds on synthetic antibiotic, B= birds on Garlic meal, C= birds on Ginger meal, D= birds on mango leaf meal and E= birds on neem leaf meal. Each treatment group was replicated trice to obtain a total of 15 replicates of 10 birds each. The chickens were randomly assigned to experimental pens of 2m x 2m each and raised in a deep liter system of management. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum, proper routine management practices and medications was strictly adopted. The trial lasted for 8 weeks. The results of the performance of the experiment showed no significant difference (P> 0.05) was observed among all the treatments for average final weight and daily weight gain. However, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio increased significantly (P< 0.05) for the birds on D and E. The cost analysis results showed no significant difference (P> 0.05) in the cost of total feed/ kg. However, the costs of feed consumed, vaccination and medication for the birds on group B, C, D and E were significantly higher than A (P< 0.05). It was further observed that the costs of feed/weight gain and average production were similar (P> 0.05) for the birds on group A, B and C but significantly lower than D and E (P< 0.05)  . However, the average sales price of the birds on A, B and C were similar (P> 0.05) but significantly higher than D and E (P< 0.05). Moreover, treatments A and C were more profitable with similar values (P> 0.05) followed by B and D but the result of E showed a significant loss (P< 0.05). At the end of this study, it was concluded that 1% dietary inclusion of ginger in broiler production is encouraged since lesser quantity of feed is used to produce 1kg of weight.