Dietary Effect of Dried and Fermented Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Nutrient Digestibility and Cecal Microflora Concentration of Broiler

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to determine the impact of dietary dried ginger (DG) and probiotic incorporated fermented ginger (FG) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, serum lipid profile, nutrient digestibility, and cecal microflora concentration in broiler. One hundred and twenty unsexed day-old Cobb 500™ commercial broiler chicks were randomly allocated into five dietary treatments and each treatment had three replications with 8 birds per replication in a completely randomized design for a five weeks trial. The five dietary groups were: G0 (control group, basal diet), G1 (basal diet+0.5% dried ginger), G2 (basal diet+1% dried ginger), G3 (basal diet+0.5% fermented ginger) and G4 (basal diet+1% fermented ginger). The results demonstrated, substantially (p<0.05) reduced overall FCR at the G1 fed birds and significanlty lowest (P<0.05) final weight and weight gain in G4 fed birds. During 3rd week, there was significantly (p<0.05) increased average daily gain (ADG) in all the supplemented birds excluding G4. The lowest average daily feed intake (ADFI) was observed at G4 birds at the age of 3rd week. Significantly higher (p<0.05) dressed weight, breast meat weight and spleen weight were found in all the dietary supplemented birds compared with control. Dietary treatments did not affect proximate components and pH of the breast meat. Drip loss percentage of the meat was found to be significantly (p<0.05) reduced in DG and FG supplemented birds. The lowest (p<0.05) cooking loss percentage observed at G1 fed birds. Meat thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) significantly (p<0.05) suppressed in DG and FG supplemented birds than control during 10th day of meat storage. Significantly (p<0.05) serum LDL levels were declined at supplemented birds and serum HDL level inclined significantly (p<0.05) in G2, G4 group but declined in G3 group. Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) for DM, CP, EE and Ash were significantly improved (p<0.05) in all the dietary supplemented birds. The Lactobacilli populations in cecal contents significantly higher (p<0.05) whereas lower E. coli was found in dietary treated birds. Highest profit achieved from G1 fed birds. It is concluded that, supplementation of 0.5% DG and 0.5% FG had beneficial effect on growth performance and meat quality with healthier gut environment of broiler.