Comparison of meat quality parameters in three chicken strains fed Moringa oleifera leaf meal-based diets

Abstract

SUMMARY The effect of dietary Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on the quality and fatty acid profile of meat from 3 chicken strains, normally used in low-input, extensive production systems, was evaluated. The MOLM was included in a commercial broiler finisher diet at 0 (MOLM0), 25 (MOLM25), 50 (MOLM50), and 100 (MOLM100) g/kg. All diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. Two hundred and sixteen (216) Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK), Ovambo (OV) and Black Australorp (BA) chickens were offered the diets for a period of 13 wk in a 2 × 3 × 4 factorial treatment arrangement in a complete randomized design (CRD). The 3-way interaction (diet × strain × gender) term did not (P > 0.05) affect redness (a*), yellowness (b*), pH or meat cooking loss, but significantly influenced (P