Effects of Panax ginseng root meal as feed additive on reproductive performance of Cameroon kabir hens

The Cameroon Kabir chicken has several production traits which makes it desirable by many farmers and hobbyists. This study was aimed at evaluating the potential of P. ginseng as a feed additive in the diet of Cameroon kabir hens reared under intensive conditions. A total of 84 kabir chickens were weighed and assigned to four dietary treatments. The birds in T0 were fed the control diet (0 % PGRM), while those in T1, T2, T3, were fed diets containing 0.5, 0.75 and 1 % PGRM respectively. The results showed that there was a significant difference (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the egg lay, egg mass and hen-day egg production of the birds between the 0.5 % and 0.75 % PGRM groups. The 0.75 % PGRM group recorded the highest mean egg weight, and it was significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) different from the other PGRM groups, but similar (<i>p</i> > 0.05) to the control. There was also a significant difference (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the hatchability percent between the 0.5 % and 0.75 % treatments groups, with the 0.5 % group recording the highest hatchability percent of 65.14 %, and the 0.75 % group recording the least hatchability percent of 12.94 %. Results for the chick hatching weights showed significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) between the 0.75 % PGRM group and the control. In conclusion, <i>P. ginseng</i> as a feed additive in the diet of Cameroon kabir hens at 0.5 % improved their reproductive performance, and also improved the survivability of their offspring better but not in the number of eggs laid by chicks.