1Department of Agricultural Economics and Animal Production, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa
2Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, Cnr Christiaan de Wet & Pioneer Street, Florida
3Research Development and Administration, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa
4Research, Development and Innovation, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Private Bag 16, Palapye, Botswana
*Corresponding Author: B.E. Ditle, Department of Agricultural Economics and Animal Production, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa. Email: be.ditle@gmail.com
Online published on 17 February, 2020.
A study was conducted to determine the growth performance and carcass characteristics of indigenous Venda chickens fed a grower's diet supplemented with varying levels of garlic meal. The study was based on four diets containing similar energy but different garlic meal supplementation levels of 0, 10, 15 and 25 g/kg DM. At 50 to 91 days, all the growth and carcass parameters measured were improved (P<0.05) by garlic meal supplementation. Feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, carcass weight, dressing percent, breast meat, thigh, drumstick, gizzard and fat pad weights of Venda chickens were optimized at different garlic meal supplementation levels of 14.7, 15.8, 8.0, 16.4, 14.2, 12.7, 11.2, 12.7, 8.2, 10.5 and 15.1, respectively. These findings have implications on ration formulation for indigenous Venda chickens. Thus, it was concluded that garlic meal supplementation improved feed intake, growth rate, live weight and carcass weight of Venda chickens.
Carcass, Garlic meal, Growth, Grower's diet
