Evaluation of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis linné) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) as phytogenic supplements for broilers

Abstract

The study investigated the potential of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis linné - AVE) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale - GNE) extracts as phytogenic supplements for broilers, as indicated by the growth, slaughter performance, visceral organ sizes, and meat quality broilers. A total of 480 Ross 308 broilers were housed in a deep litter open-sided house, stocked at 15 birds per 150 cm length × 144 cm width mesh-wire pen. During the starter period (days 1-22), the chicks were fed a diet containing 220 g kg-1 CP and 17.8 MJ ME kg-1. For the grower (days 23-36) and finisher (days 37-50) phases, the chicks were assigned to pens in a 2 (sex) × 4 (additive) factorial design, with two diets used for each phase: an antibiotic-free negative control (NC) diet and a positive control (PC) diet containing zinc bacitracin 15% granular at 500g/tonne plus 12% valinomycin sodium at 500g/tonne. Birds on the PC diet had access to clean drinking water only, while those on the NC diet received water without or with 2 mL/L of AVE or GNE. Birds on the GNE had small livers (33.5±1.37g), which suggested liver damage or a lower metabolic load. Birds on AVE had low (17.0±0.15g) abdominal fat, which indicated leaner growth. Males consumed more feed (145.5 ±2.74g) than the females (136.4±2.74g) during the finisher phase, and by slaughter (54.3±1.77 versus 52.6±1.77 g, respectively). The treatments affected the mean feed intake (132.7±2.27 - 149.5±2.27 g), weight gain (46.7±2.50 -77.7±2.50 g/bird/day), and FCR (3.4±0.14 - 2.1±0.14) across all growth phases, with the best performance recorded in birds on the PC. Females had higher percentage wings (4.8±0.18 versus 4.4±0.18 %) and breasts (33.9±0.96 versus 29.8 ±0.96 %) on the PC, compared to the NC treatment. In conclusion, the plant extracts did not improve broiler growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality parameters at the 2 ml/L dosage.