AN ASSESSMENT OF CARCASS AND INTERNAL ORGAN CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKEN ADMINISTERED SOME PHYTOGENIC ADDITIVES

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to examine the effects of cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), turmeric (Curcuma longa) and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) on the carcass and some internal organ characteristics of broiler chickens at the level of 250g per 25kg of feed. A total of 120 broiler birds were used for this study which lasted for 4 - 8 weeks of age. Birds were randomly allotted to six treatments, T1 (1% cinnamon powder), T2 (1% turmeric powder), T3 (1% cloves powder), T4 (0.5% turmeric + 0.5% cloves), T5 (0.5% turmeric + 0.5% cinnamon) and T6 (control) in a completely randomized design (CRD), with each treatment having 20 birds with 3 replicates. The result shows that the live weight of broiler chicken fed different phytogenic plant additives was not significantly different at 5% level (p>0.05) of probability. The result indicates that the broilers fed without phytogenic additives (control) were significantly (p<0.05) higher (3.08kg) while the least live weight was recorded in broilers fed with cloves additives (2.47kg). Phytogenic additives (turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, a combination of turmeric and cinnamon and a combination of turmeric and cloves) had no significant effect on body weight, carcass weight and dress weight of broiler chickens experimented in this study. The result shows that there was no significant difference between the weights of liver fed different phytogenic additives. However, the highest (64.67g) liver weight was recorded in broilers administered turmeric additives while the least xi (46.67g) weight was observed in broilers administered cloves additives. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the weight of gizzard administered phytogenic additives. However, the least (46.67g) gizzard weight was observed in the group fed with cloves additives. The result also shows that there was no significant difference between the length of the small intestine and the caecum administered phytogenic additives. Whereas, there is a significant difference between the length of the large intestine with the highest length being recorded in broilers administered turmeric and cloves (T4).