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Apr 30, 2025Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Growth Performance, Apparent Nutrient Digestibility, and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Containing Varying Levels of Bitter ColA (Garcinia kola)
Abstract
The study was conducted to investigate the effect of Bitter cola (Garcinia kola) on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. Two hundred (200) day-old unsexed broiler chicks were used for the study, which lasted for eight weeks. The chickens were randomly assigned to five treatments, with forty birds per treatment. Each group was replicated four times with 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Bitter kola powder was incorporated into the feed at graded levels of 0.0g/kg (T1), 15g/kg (T2), 20g/kg (T3), 25g/kg (T4), and 30g/kg (T5). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and results obtained revealed that growth performance showed significant differences (P<0.05) in T4 (25g/kg) for final weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, mortality percentage, and total feed intake in T2 (15g/kg), T1 (control), and T3 (20g/kg), respectively. Daily feed intake was significantly different in T2 (15g/kg), while initial weight showed no significant difference compared to T1, which was the control. Apparent nutrient digestibility showed significant differences (P<0.05) in T4 (25g/kg) across all treatment groups. For carcass characteristics, live weight, slaughter weight, carcass weight, dressed weight, and back and all showed significant differences (P<0.05) in T4 (25g/kg). Dressed percentage, thigh, gizzard, liver, heart, and kidney were significantly different in T5 (30g/kg), while breast, drumstick, and crop were significant in T3 (20g/kg). Head and shank were significant in T2 (15g/kg), while heart, kidney, and intestine were significant in T1 (control). In conclusion, bitter cola (Garcinia kola) can be incorporated at 25g/kg of broiler chickens' diet under a semi-arid condition for improved performance without any adverse effect.
