EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF PROCESSED WILD SUNFLOWER (Tithonia diversifolia) AND GOAT WEED (Ageratum conyzoides) LEAF MEALS ON MEAT QUALITY OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of wild sunflower and goat weed composite leaf meal mix (CLM) on the meat of 42-day old  broiler chicken. Three hundred day-old Arbor-acre broiler chicks were used for the experiment. The chicks were randomly assigned into five experimental groups at sixty chicks per treatment and ten chicks per replicate. The experimental diets were supplemented with CLM at various inclusion levels: diet 1 (0%), diet 2 (0.11% Oxytetracycline supplementation), diet 3 (0.4% CLM supplementation), diet 4 (0.80% CLM supplementation), and diet 5 (1.20% CLM supplementation). Feed and water were giving ad-libitum and routine management strictly observed. The meat cholesterol level of the broiler chickens fed OXY supplemented diet (diet 2) was lower (P<0.05) to those that were fed the control diet. However, further significant (P<0.05) decrease were recorded in the birds fed the CLM supplemented diets (diets 3, 4 and 5) such that the least cholesterol content was recorded in 0.8 CLM supplemented-diet. The broiler meat glutathione peroxidase content recorded in the birds fed the 0.8% and 1.2% CLM supplemented diets were lower (P<0.05) compare to those birds fed the control diet; OXY and 0.4% CLM supplemented diets. However, the lipid oxidation of the broiler meat fed the OXY and CLM supplemented diets (diets 2, 3, 4 and 5) were (P<0.05) lower than those birds fed the control diet. In conclusion, 0.8% and 1.2% dietary supplementation of the broiler chicken diets reduced the meat cholesterol content and the glutathione. The phyto-additives reduced the meat lipid oxidation.