Artemisia afra essential oils inclusion in diets induces desirable effects on meat quality and fatty acid profiles of broilers chickens

The effects of A<i>rtemisia afra</i> (African wormwood) essential oil incorporation in diets on meat quality and fatty acid profilers of broilers was assessed. Four hundred Cobb500 day-old chicks were obtained and placed randomly into the following 4 diets replicated 10 times: NC-Negative control (broiler diet without antibiotics), PC-positive control (broiler diet with zinc bacitracin), AA1-broiler diet + 0.1 % <i>A. afra</i> essential oil and AA2 - broiler diet + 0.3% <i>A. afra</i> essential oil. A pen having 10 chicks was regarded as the experimental unit. From the results, all carcass traits were influenced (P < 0.01) by diet apart from the dressing out percentage. The highest slaughter weights (1846g) and hot carcass weight (1427.36g) were obtained in birds fed the AA1 diet. Highest ultimate pH value (6.24) was obtained from the birds fed the AA1 while the highest values for meat lightness (L*) were obtained in birds offered the AA1 and NC diets (55.73 and 55.82). Cooking loss was highest in birds fed the NC (31.01%) diet. Birds fed the AA2 diet (23.7mg/g)) had the highest intramuscular fat followed by the AA1 fed birds. Inclusion of <i>A. afra</i> essential oils in diets also increased the proportion of PUFAs, n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and the PUFA/SFA ratios. In conclusion, the incorporation of <i>A. afra</i> essential oil in diets improved meat quality and fatty acid composition of broiler meat for the benefit of consumers.