The Use of Bitter Kola (Garcinia kola) Dry Seed Powder as a Natural Growth Promoting Agent in Broiler Chicks

The effect of dried seed powered of bitter (Garcinia kola) on weekly feed intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks of Anak strain were studied. Broiler chicks were assigned to 5 treatment groups of 40 birds each per group Replicated twice with 20 birds per replicate. They were fed diets containing 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 g/100 g dry seed powder of G. kola. There were significant treatment differences (p<0.05), in feed intake, body weight gain and feed efficiency. Feed efficiency was highest in 0, 2.5 g/100 g and lowest in 5 and 7.5 g/100 g inclusion levels. There was no mortality throughout the trial in any of the treatment groups.