Evaluation of ginger (<i>Zingiber officinale) as feed additive on the performance and cost benefit of red sokoto bucks fed <i>Digitaria smutsii</i> basal diet

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion levels of ginger on performance of Red Sokoto bucks (RSB). A total of twenty-four (24) bucks weighing on the average 17.86 kg were used for the experiment. The animals were randomly assigned to four diets, containing 0, 250, 500 and 750 g/100kg diet levels of ginger respectively, with six animals per treatment diets, in a completely randomized design. The animals were fed concentrate at 1.5 % of body weight. Feed intake, weight gain and nutrient digestibility were recorded. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance using the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) and significant treatment means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results obtained showed that bucks fed diet containing 250 and 750 g ginger consumed more feed even though with no significant difference (p>0.05) across the treatment. Animals fed diet containing 750 g ginger had significantly higher (p<0.05) weight gain (2.50 kg) and significantly best (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio (28.08) while significantly least (p<0.05) weight gain (1.17 kg) was recorded in the group fed diet containing 500 g ginger. Including ginger at 750 g saved cost of feeding/kg weight gain by 17 % compared to the control. The study showed that ginger inclusion in the diet of RSB improved weight gain, feed conversion ratio, digestibility and reduced cost of feed per kg weight gain. The study showed that ginger can be included up to 750g/100 kg diet of RSB for better performance.