Carcass Quality of Broiler Chickens Fed Varying Dietary Levels of Country Onion (Afrostyrax lepidophyllus) Seed Meal

This study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of country onion (Afrostyrax lepidophyllus) seed meal (ALSM) on the carcass cut, internal organ characteristics and sensory qualities of broiler finisher meat. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) day old broiler chicks were purchased from a certified distributor in Uyo metropolis and raised in a deep litter system. The birds were assigned to five dietary treatments which contained 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2% inclusion levels of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus seed meal and was carried out at pre-starter (0–3 weeks), starter (4–6 weeks), finisher (7–8 weeks) phases. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Parameters evaluated included carcass yield, relative weights of internal organs and sensory attributes of breast meat using a seven-point hedonic scale. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in a Completely Randomized Design and the means were separated using the Duncan Multiple Range test. The dietary inclusion of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus seed meal in broiler’s diet had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the percentage live weight, plucked weight, dressed weight, shank weight, thigh weight, back weight, breast weight, head weight, neck weight and internal organs of the birds. Taste, juiciness, and overall acceptability showed some variations among treatments, with meat from treatment 1 and treatment 5 (1.2% ALSM) having higher taste and acceptability scores compared to other treatments. Feeding diets with 0.3-0.6% dietary ALSM had no adverse effects on carcass quality and sensory attributes of finisher broiler birds. In conclusion, ALSM can be safely included in broiler finisher diets without any detrimental effects on organ development or meat quality and can serve as a safe and suitable phytogenic feed additive in broiler production