Evaluating the Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum) as a Feed Additive on the Growth Performance and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens
Keywords:
Broiler, Garlic, Growth Promoter, Immune System
Abstract
In a quest to find affordable, antibiotics free and readily available means of increasing broiler meat productivity, a number of natural feed additives have been tested and suggested. Garlic (Allium sativum) has emerged as a preferable alternative to synthetic feed additives. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of garlic as a feed additive on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and immune response. 300-day-old chicks were acclimatized for 2 weeks and then randomly assigned to 5 treatments (0.00%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00% garlic inclusion levels) with replicates. Mean weekly feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and differential leucocyte counts (lymphocytes, heterophils, basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes) were analyzed for treatment effects. There were significant differences among the means across all treatments for all dependent variables except mean weekly body weight gain at 2 weeks. Garlic supplementation significantly influenced body weight from three to six weeks of age, with the control group (0.00%) consistently exhibiting the lowest body weight. At six weeks, body weight was highest at 0.75%, followed by 1.00%, 0.50%, and 0.25% garlic inclusion levels, demonstrating the positive impact of dietary garlic on growth performance. It was also observed that garlic supplementation led to increases in the basophil and monocyte counts, suggesting a bolstered immune system.References
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24. Yunwei, L., Shuangshuang, H., and Bing, C., 2020. Improvement of the key flavour compounds of fermented garlic by fermentation process optimization. African Journal of Biotechnology, 19(10),789–798.https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB2020.17240
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2. Abd El-Ghany, W. A., 2024. Potential Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) on the Performance, Immunity, Gut Health, Anti-Oxidant Status, Blood Parameters, and Intestinal Microbiota of Poultry: An Updated Comprehensive Review. Animals, 14(3), 498. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030498
3. Ali, M., Kamruzzaman, M., and Khandaker, Z., 2016. Effects of feeding garlic powder on growth performance and meat quality of broilers. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science, 45(2), 79–83. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v45i2.29815
4. Alrabadi, N., Haddad, R., Alhijazeen, M., Massoh, M., Alqudah, J., Jiries, A., Aludatt, M., Al-Dalain, S., Al-Dmour, R., AlNasir, F.,Mayyas, A., and Al-Rabadi, G., 2021. Effect of Garlic powder Supplementation level at different growth stages on Broiler performance.
5. Chimbaka, I. M., and Walubita, K., 2020. The effects of garlic ( Allium sativum ) powder on growth performance of rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ). Global Scientific Journal, 8(7), 2432–2442.
6. Elkatcha, M., Soltan, M., Sharaf, M., and Hasen, A., 2017. Growth Performance, Immune Response, Blood serum parameters, Nutrient Digestibility and Carcass Traits of Broiler Chicken as Affected by Dietary Supplementation of Garlic Extract (Allicin). Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 1.https://doi.org/10.5455/ajvs.219261
7. Elwan, A.M., Hamada S. Elnesr, Shaaban and R.Farag, Mayada and M. Bilal, Rana and E. Abd El-Hack, Mohamed and Alagawany, Mahmoud", title= "The Role of Garlic and Rosemary Herbs in Poultry Nutrition", booktitle = "Natural Feed Additives Used in the Poultry Industry", publisher = "Bentham Science Publishers", year = "2020",pages = "34-55", url =" https://www.benthamdirect.com/content/books/9789811488450.chapter-3"
8. Faruk, Md. A., Munira, S., Hasan, M., Manu, M.,Khatun, M., and Yeasmin, T., 2023. Dietary Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum) Powder on Growth Performance of Commercial Broiler. 13,1537–1542.https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13943021
9. Ghosh, S., Mehla, R. K., Sirohi, S. K., and Roy,B., 2010. The effect of dietary garlic supplementation on body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, faecal score, faecal coliform count and feeding cost in crossbred dairy calves. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 42(5), 961–968. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9514-5
10. Kairalla, M., Alshelmani, M., and Aburas, A.,2022. Effect of diet supplemented with graded levels of garlic (Allium sativum L.) powder on growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood hematology and biochemistry of broiler. Open Veterinary Journal, 12(5), 595. https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2022.v12.i5.1
11. Karangiya, V. K., Savsani, H. H., Patil, S. S.,Garg, D. D., Murthy, K. S., Ribadiya, N. K.,and Vekariya, S. J., 2016. Effect of dietary supplementation of garlic, ginger and their combination on feed intake, growth performance and economics in commercial broilers. Veterinary World, 9(3), 245–250. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2016.245-250.
12. Kewan, K., Ali, M., Ahmed, B., El-Kolty, S.,and Nayel, U., 2021. The effect of yeast (saccharomyces cerevisae), garlic (Allium sativum) and their combination as feed additives in finishing diets on the performance, ruminal fermentation, and immune status of lambs. Egyptian Journal of Nutrition and Feeds, 24(1), 55–76. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejnf.2021.170304.
13. Makwana, R. B., Raval, A. P., Chauhan, H.D., Kulkarni, R. C., Srivastava, A. K.,Bhagwat, S. R., and Rajgor, B. B., 2015.Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum ) Supplementation on Growth Performance,Carcass Characteristics and Economics of Broilers. Journal of Animal Research, 5(4),843.https://doi.org/10.5958/2277-940X.2015.00140.0
14. Musaba, E. C., and Mseteka, M., 2014. Cost efficiency of small-scale commercial broiler production in Zambia: A stochastic cost frontier approach. 4(5). www.iiste.org
15. Maundu, P., Achigan-Dako, E., & Morimoto,Y. (2009). Biodiversity of African vegetables. In African indigenous vegetables in urban agriculture (pp. 65-104).Routledge.
16. Onu, P. N., and Aja, P. M., 2011. Growth performance and haematological indices of weaned rabbits fed garlic (Allium sativum) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) supplemented diets. International Journal of Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences,1(1), 51-59.
17. Naveed Mastoi, A., Hilal Ahmad Abbasi, B.,Nawaz, Z., Rashid, N., Muhammad Bilal, R.,Ayub, S., Majeed, A., Noor, A., Iqbal, M., ud
18. Din, S., Fareed, G., and Author, C., 2023. Effects of dietary supplementation of garlic (Allium sativum l.) On production and haematological parameters and serum cholesterol level in the broilers. 6(2), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.31580/pjmls.v6i2.2.
19. Patience, O., 2011. Growth performance and haematological indices of weaned rabbits fed garlic (Allium sativum) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) supplemented diets. International Journal of Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences., 1, 51–59.
20. Patocka, J., Havel, J., and Pena-Mendez, E. M.,2023. What Does Garlic Smell Like? Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences, 4(9),1346–1347. https://doi.org/10.37871/jbres1803.
21. Tizard, I., 2013. Veterinary Immunology: An Introduction. In Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Co. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc. (Vol. 1).
22. Wills, E. D. B. T.-B. B. of M. (Ed.).,1985. Front Matter (p. iii). Butterworth-Heinemann. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7236-0722-9.50001-8.
23. Xu, A., Shang-Guan, J., Li, Z., Gao, Z., Huang,Y., and Chen, Q., 2020. Effects of garlic powder on feeding attraction activity, growth and digestive enzyme activities of Japanese seabass, Lateolabrax japonicus. Aquaculture Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1111/anu.13001.
24. Yunwei, L., Shuangshuang, H., and Bing, C., 2020. Improvement of the key flavour compounds of fermented garlic by fermentation process optimization. African Journal of Biotechnology, 19(10),789–798.https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB2020.17240
25. ZAMBIA: Sustainable investment in agro-processing and light manufacturing In partnership with., 2019. http://www.intracen.org
26. Zare, M., Tran, H. Q., Prokešová, M., and Stejskal, V., 2021. Effects of Garlic Allium sativum Powder on Nutrient Digestibility, Haematology, and Immune and Stress Responses in Eurasian Perch Perca fluviatilis Juveniles.Animals,11(9), 2735. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092735
Published
2025-04-10
How to Cite
1.
Mufungwe J, Moono M, Chimbaka I, Kanyinji F, Odubote I, Harrison S, Nkhuwa J. Evaluating the Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum) as a Feed Additive on the Growth Performance and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens. Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences [Internet]. 10Apr.2025 [cited 14Jul.2025];8(3). Available from: https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1344
Section
Agriculture Sciences
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