ABSTRACT
The internal organs and carcass characteristics of 120 broilers (4-8 weeks of age) were assessed to study the effect of Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon), Curcuma longa (turmeric), Syzygium aromaticum (cloves), (turmeric/cloves), and (turmeric/cinnamon) as feed additives in their diet and were administered at the level of 10g per 1kg of feed. Birds were randomly allotted to six treatments; T1(1% cinnamon powder), T2(1% turmeric powder), T3(1% cloves powder), T4(0.5% turmeric + 0.5% cloves), T5(0.5% turmeric + 0.5% cinnamon), and T6(control) in a completely randomized design, with each treatment having 20 birds, with 3 replicates. The result indicates that the live weight of birds fed with different phytogenic additives were not significantly different (p>0.05) at 5% level of probability, but recorded the highest live weight (3.08kg) in T6, while the least live weight (2.47kg) in T3. Similarly, there was no significant effect (p>0.05%) on the body weight, dress weight, carcass weight, caecum length, and small intestine length. However, the dress weight of T4 (2.42kg) was significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to other groups. T4 also had significant effect (p<0.05) on the length of large intestine (14.33cm) while the least length (10.0cm) was observed in T5. The weight of gizzard (83.33g) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in T6, but insignificant with the inclusion of phytogenic additives. The least (46.67g) gizzard weight was observed in the group fed with T3. In addition, there was no significant effect (p>0.05) of different phytogenic additives on the liver weight. However, highest liver weight (64.67g) was recorded in T2, while the least (46.67g) in T3.
