A total of 432 day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 708 strain) were completely randomized to six dietary treatment groups. Each treatment contained six replicate pens, each with twelve chicks allocated to each pen. The trial lasted for 42 days (6 weeks). Treatment 1 (CON) consisted of chicks fed unmedicated corn–soybean meal (SBM). Treatment 2 (MX) consisted of chicks given unmedicated corn–SBM basal with bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) added at 0.055 g/kg diet. Treatment 3 (GRE-1), treatment 4 (GRE-2), treatment 5 (GRE-3), and treatment 6 (GRE-4) consisted of chicks given unmedicated corn–SBM basal with dietary ginger root extract added at 0.375%, 0.75%, 1.5%, and 3% levels of the diet, respectively. Ginger root extract was purchased commercially from Sabinsa Corporation, East Windsor, NJ. The chicks spent their first 21 days in a battery cage and were later moved to a floor enclosure with a nipple drinker line, a hanging feeder, and clean, new litter. Diets (Table 1 and Table 2 ) used in experiments were designed so as to adhere to, meet, or slightly exceed nutrient requirements recommended in the Aviagen 2022 Ross broiler nutrition specification handbook. Starter diets were supplied as crumble from day 1 to day 21, and grower diets were fed as pellets from day 22 to day 42 of the experiment. During the 42-day trial, the birds had free access to food and water.
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