Broiler chickens play a crucial role in meeting global protein needs. Enhancing their health and production is essential for sustainable agriculture. Recent research has highlighted ginger powder (Zingiber officinale) as a promising natural feed additive for broilers. Let’s explore how ginger powder impacts broiler growth, health, and productivity.
Key Benefits of Ginger Powder in Broiler Feed
Ginger, a well-known culinary spice, is rich in antioxidants and bioactive compounds like gingerol. Its inclusion in broiler diets has been shown to:
- Enhance Growth Performance
Birds fed with ginger-supplemented diets achieved better weight gain. For example, chickens fed 10g/kg of ginger powder showed a 6% increase in body weight compared to controls. - Improve Feed Efficiency
Ginger reduced feed consumption while maintaining high body weight, leading to more efficient feed utilization. - Boost Digestibility
Ginger enhances nutrient absorption by improving the activity of digestive enzymes like protease and lipase. - Lower Cholesterol Levels
Supplementing diets with ginger significantly decreased total cholesterol and triglycerides while boosting “good” HDL cholesterol.
Nutritional and Health Improvements
1. Antioxidant Properties
Ginger’s antioxidant capabilities help combat oxidative stress, a common issue in intensive poultry farming. It reduces malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a marker of cell damage, and increases superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the liver. Which means that ginger is a good antioxidant that can be added in broilers feeding
2. Enhanced Immunity
Chickens fed with ginger exhibited higher white blood cell (WBC) counts and improved immune responses. This reduces susceptibility to diseases like Newcastle disease. a dosage of 5g/Kg of Ginger in chicken feed increased white blood cells by 66%
3. Blood and Biochemical Parameters
Table 1 summarizes the effects of ginger on key blood metrics:
| Parameter | Control | 5g/kg Ginger | 10g/kg Ginger | 15g/kg Ginger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Blood Cells (WBC) | 47.9 K/uL | 79.6 K/uL | 75.3 K/uL | 74.2 K/uL |
| Total Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 160 | 145 | 140 | 121 |
| High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) | 69.8 | 83 | 90.9 | 92.9 |
Optimal Ginger Dosage for Broilers
The study experimented with various ginger levels (0, 5, 10, and 15 g/kg feed). Here are the key findings:
- 5-10g/kg is optimal for boosting growth, immunity, and antioxidant status without adverse effects.
- Higher doses (15g/kg) further improve performance but may reduce feed intake slightly.
How Ginger Improves Broiler Digestibility
Digestibility improvements stem from ginger’s stimulation of digestive enzymes, leading to better nutrient breakdown. Table 2 highlights ginger’s impact:
| Digestibility Metric | Control | 5g/kg Ginger | 10g/kg Ginger | 15g/kg Ginger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD) | 58.6% | 73.9% | 71.1% | 77.9% |
| Crude Protein Utilization (CPU) | 60.5% | 74.3% | 76.1% | 73.9% |
How to use ginger feed for broilers
- Introduce Ginger Gradually in chicken feed
Start with a lower concentration (5g/kg) and monitor feed intake and growth. - Combine with Balanced Nutrition
Ginger works best with high-quality diets rich in proteins and essential vitamins. - Store Feed Properly
Ginger-supplemented feeds maintain their stability for up to 50 days when stored correctly.
Conclusion
Incorporating ginger powder into broiler diets offers a natural, effective way to improve growth, health, and productivity. Its ability to reduce feed costs, enhance immunity, and lower cholesterol makes it a valuable tool for poultry farmers.
References:
- Effect of Ginger Powder on Production Performance, Antioxidant Status, Hematological Parameters, Digestibility, and Plasma Cholesterol Content in Broiler Chickens – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8996832/
- Tanweer A., Chand N., Khan S., Qureshi M., Akhtar A., Niamatullah M. Impact of Methanolic Extract of Peganum Harmala on The Weight Gain, Feed Conversion Ratio, Feed Cost and Gross Return of Broiler Chicks. J. Anim. Plant Sci. 2012;22:264–267.
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