CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED GRADED LEVELS OF PROCESSED BITTER LEAF (Vernonia amygdalina) MEAL AS PHYTOGENIC ADDITIVES

Abstract

The major constraint to the production of broiler chicken in Nigeria is the increasing cost of feed and feed availability. In order to alleviate feed cost and enhance maximum production, various feed additives are used in poultry to maximize net returns and carcass quality. Hence this study tends to assess the phytobiotic potentials of biterleaf. An 8weeks research was carried out to investigate the carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed graded levels of diets containing dried bitter leaf meal. A total of 72 Ross ‘308’ broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments T1, T2, T3, and T4 consisting of 0, 250, 350 and 500g of dried bitter leaf meal per 100kg respectively. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with eighteen (18) birds per treatment with three replicates per treatment and six (6) birds per replicate. At the end of the experiment, 1 bird per replicate (n = 12) was selected and slaughtered for carcass evaluation. The primal cut weights were expressed in percentage of respective live weight. Data obtained were subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using General Linear Model procedure of software package SAS. The processed bitter leaf meal had significant (p<0.05) effects on the live weight, bled, dressed, eviscerated weights, dressed percent and the relative neck weight of broiler chicken at finisher phase. The broilers fed T4 treatment had the highest (p<0.05) live weight (3466.67±0.04), bled weight (3166.67±0.04g), dressed weight (3000.00±0.04g), Eviscerated weight (2666.67±0.04g) comparable with those on control. Dressing percentage was significantly (p<0.05) highest among birds placed on 250g of dried bitterleaf meal. Significant differences were observed in the relative weight of neck and empty gizzard with higher value observed among birds fed 350g of dried bitterleaf meal. However, every other parameter measured shows similarities with no significant differences (p>0.05) among them. It is therefore concluded that processed bitter leaf meal can successfully be included in broiler chickens diet up to 500g. It is also recommended that further studies be carried out on the blood chemistry of the birds fed the treatment diet