Effects of mangosteen peel (Garcinia mangostana) and ginger rhizome (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) on the performance and cholesterol levels of heat-stressed broiler chickens

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of mangosteen peel and ginger rhizome on the performance and cholesterol levels of heat-stressed broiler chickens. Materials and Methods: One hundred unsexed day-old commercial broiler chicks were fed one of four experimental diets. Diet T1, the control treatment, contained neither mangosteen peel nor ginger rhizome, diets T2 and T3 contained 5% mangosteen peel and 5% ginger rhizome, respectively and diet T4 contained 2.5% of both mangosteen peel and ginger rhizome. Results: The results indicated that the consumption of diet T4 was significantly higher than that of the other three diets (p<0.05). The mean live weight of broilers fed diets T2 and T4 was significantly greater (p<0.05) than that of broilers fed the control diet. The abdominal fat ratios and cholesterol levels of broilers fed diets T3 and T4 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of broilers fed the control diet. Conclusion: The performance of broiler chickens can be enhanced by the addition of mangosteen peel or a combination of mangosteen peel and ginger rhizome to feed formulations.