Carcass characteristics and blood profile of broiler chicken fed graded levels of <i>Hibiscus sabdariffa</i> seed meal as alternative source of methionine

Abstract

One hundred and fifty (150) broilers chicks at 14 days of age were used in six weeks feeding trial to determine the effect of the best natural sources of methionine on performance of broiler chicken. Five broiler starter and finisher diets each were formulated. Diet 1 was the control and contained the DL –methionine., while Diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% Hibiscus sabdariffa Seed Meal (HSSM) respectively. The birds were randomly allocated to the five treatment diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment comprised of three replicates of ten (10) birds per replicates. The result showed that carcass parts were significantly (P<0.05) different across the treatment groups, while organs such as lungs, heart, spleen, gizzard, small intestine length and ceacal length showed no significant (P>0.05) effect. All haematological and biochemical parameters were not affected by dietary treatment except glucose, globulin and urea were significant across the treatment groups. Final weight, body weight gain, daily weight gain, total feed intake, and feed conversion ratio in starter phase were significantly different across the treatment groups. In finisher phase, only initial weight, total feed intake and daily feed intake were significant across the treatment groups. Cost of feed consumed per bird was lowest in T1 (#131.00) and was highest in T5 (#231.00). Feed cost/kg gain was highest in T5 (#700.30) but lowest in T1 (#330.67), while total weight gain/kg was highest in T1 (1.24kg) followed by T4 (1.08). Based on this study, it indicated that replacement of DL – methionine with 2.5% HSS could result in higher profit margin for poultry farmers. It is therefore recommended that Hibiscus sabdariffa seed of natural sources of methionine can replace synthetic methionine in the diet of broiler chickens.