Effect of graded levels of raw roselle (<i>Hibiscus sabdariffa<i>) seed meal on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality traits of broiler chicken

Abstract

Means of reducing the rising cost of feed resources in livestock production is a concern in the
poultry industry in Nigeria.The study was carried out to investigate the effect of graded level
of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seed meal on performance traits, physical and sensory
quality of broiler chicken meat. One hundred and twenty birds at day 28 were used and thirty
birds were randomly allotted into respective four dietary treatments [T1 - control diet with
0% inclusion level of raw roselle seed meal (RSM) while T2, T3 and T4 had 25%, 50% and
75% inclusion level of RSM respectively] in a complete randomized design. Each treatment
had three replicates with ten birds per replicate. At the end of the 28-day feeding trial being 8
weeks, 24 birds (2-birds/replicate) were slaughtered for physical and sensory meat quality
characteristics: colour, appearance, flavor, texture, taste and overall acceptability. Result
showed there was not significant (P>0.05) difference for final weight, weight gain and feed
intake among T1, T2 and T3 but T4 had significant (P<0.05) least values in final weight
(1.58kg) weight gain (1.05kg) and feed intake (3.52kg) among the treatments. The FCR was
not significantly different for T1 (3.32) and T4 (3.36) while both T1 and T4 differed
significantly from T2 (3.13) and T3 (3.11). There were not significant (p>0.05) differences in
the carcass traits that were measured across the treatments. The cooking loss from the thigh
meat in T2 (27.55%) was significantly lower in comparison to treatments T3 (36.60%) and
T4 (35.62%) but was not significantly different from T1 (30.48%). The cooking loss from
breast and drumstick meat showed insignificant (P<0.05) difference among the treatments.
The texture of the meat had least scored value in T1 (4.93) which was significantly different
from T1 (6.33) but not significantly different from T2 (5.13) and T4 (6.07). The overall
acceptability of the meat from the treatments was highest in T1 (7.03) with no significantly
different from T3 (6.33) and T4 (6.67) but was significantly different from T2 (5.6). It can be
concluded that raw roselle seed meal can be used as a substitute for full fat soybean for use in
finisher broiler diets up to 50% inclusion level without adverse effect on the performance
traits and some meat quality attributes of chicken.

Keywords: Broilers' performance, meat quality traits and roselle seed meal.