CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED RAW AND DIFFERENTLY PROCESSED ROSELLE (HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA) SEEDMEAL

Abstract

Raw and differently processed roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seed meal were fed as part replacement for groundnut caketo one hundred and fifty (150) Abor acre broiler chickens whose carcass characteristics were determined. The birds were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments with three replicates (ten chicks per replicate) each in a completely randomized design (CRD). In the feeding trial, raw roselle seed meal (RaRSM), roasted roselle seed meal (R_aRSM), boiled roselle seed meal (BRSM) and soaked roselle seed meal (SRSM) were incorporated as part replacement for groundnut cake at 50% level of inclusion. Results obtained for cut-up parts showed no significant (P>0.05) differences except for wings of the bird fed roasted roselle seed meal was significantly (P<0.05) different and higher than those fed control, raw, boiled and soaked roselle seed meal (10.87, 7.52, 9.85 and 9.46% respectively). Results from visceral organs showed no significant (P>0.05) different but for proventriculus which exhibited significant (P<0.05) differences among the treatment means. Birds fed roasted roselle seed meal (R_aRSM) had the highest value (0.80%) while those fed raw roselle seed meal (RaRSM) gave the least (0.50%). This study however, revealed that using processed roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seed meal as part replacement for groundnut cake did not pose any threat to the cut-up parts and the visceral organs of broiler chickens.