Effect of garlic powder on growth performance and immune response for newcastle and avian influenza virus diseases in broiler of chickens

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of garlic powder on performance of broilers (e.g. growth rate, cumulative feed intake and feed conversion rate) and immune response for Newcastle virus (NVD) disease at 7, 14 and 21 days post vaccination and avian influenza virus (AIV) disease at 22, 29 and 36 days post vaccination. One hundred and sixty Hubbard chicks at one-day-old were chosen randomly and divided into four groups (40 birds in each group). The chicks in the first group were fed on control diet free of garlic, (GP0), but the 2 nd, 3 rd and 4 th groups received diet supplemented with 100 (GP100), 150 (GP150) and 200 (GP200) g garlic powder/tonne, respectively. Results showed that the diets containing feed additives of garlic powder had a highly significant effect on broilers ' performance (P<0.0001). It was improved live body weights, LBW and increased feed conversation rate (FCR); decreased cumulative feed intake (CFI); and mortality rate (MR). In general, it showed that birds fed on diet supplemented with garlic showed a highly significant effect (P<0.001) on antibodies titers for NVD and AIV diseases. Birds fed on diet supplemented with garlic showed a positive significant effect (P<0.05) on blood hematology (red blood cell “RBC”, white blood cell “WBC”, lymphocytes “L”, heterophyles “H ” and H/L ratio and hemoglobin HP). Chicks which received diet supplemented with 200 g garlic powder /tonne were affected more postively compared to the other groups. Sex effect was significan