Carcass traits and internal organs of broiler chickens as influenced by coffee weed (<I>Senna occidentalis</I>) leaf ethanolic extract

Abstract

Carcass traits and internal organs of one hundred and twenty, one day-old broiler chicks maintained on different dosages of coffee weed leaf  ethanolic extract for eight weeks were studied. Five dosages (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100mL) of coffee weed leaf ethanolic extract (CWLEE) per litre of drinking water (T₁ T₂ , T₃ , T₄ and T₅ ) were used. The birds were allocated  to the various treatment groups in a completely randomized design  (CRD) with each treatment replicated three times (8 birds per replicate). Data on carcass traits revealed that live weight (2.50kg/bird), defeathered (2.30kg/bird) and eviscerated (2.00kg/bird) weights as well as dressing percentage (81.69%) were significantly (P<0.5) higher among birds on 50mL of CWLEE compared to those on other treatment groups. Similarly, the relative weights of drumstick (16.60%) and thigh (22.28%) were also  significantly (P<0.05) better in broiler chickens administered 50mL CWLEE. Relative organ weights of broiler showed that weight of heart, lungs, gizzard, bursa, spleen and kidney were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the treatments. It is therefore inferred that birds administered 50mL  CWLEE gave better carcass quality and functioning of the vital organs and therefore can be recommended for broiler chickens.

Keywords: Broilers, carcass, coffee weed, extract, organs