ABSTRACT
The study seeks to examine the effect of phytogenic feed additives on the relative internal organ changes in broilers chickens administered orally some phytogenic additives. The study was carried out at the Poultry Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Science, University of Benin. A total of one hundred (100) day old healthy commercial broiler chicken, were sourced from reputable poultry farm in Ibadan. The experiment was divided into 5 treatments namely treatment 1,2,3,4 and 5. Treatment 1 was turmeric at 5g treatment 2 was ginger at 5g treatment 3 was red pepper at 5g, treatment 4 was black pepper at 5g and treatment 5 was a control (no form of additive), each treatment pen had a total of 20 birds. These experiment feed in water was fed to the chickens adlibitum. The result of the study shows that phytogenic feed additive significantly affect the growth performance (Live weight, body weight, dress weight) and internal organ (liver, gizzard, heart, carcass, small intestine, large intestine and caecum) of broiler chicken. With the exception of body weight, dress weight, carcass, small intestine, large intestine and caecum, other parameters (live weight, liver, gizzard and heart) measured were significantly different (P<0.05) between the control and the phytogenic additive treated groups. The live weight, body weight, dress weight, liver, gizzard, heart, carcass, small intestine, large intestine and caecum were significantly higher in phytogenic feed additives compare to the control.
