Dose-related responses of broiler chickens to black velvet tamarind (Dialium guineense) stem bark supplementation: carcass characteristics, organ weight and intestinal biometry

Abstract

Carcass characteristics, organ weights, and intestinal biometry of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with black velvet tamarind (Dialium guineense) stem bark (BSB) were assessed. Two hundred, day-old Ross 308 broilers were divided into 4 groups of 50 chickens, and each group replicated five times. Each group were assigned to one experimental diet in a completely randomised design designated T0 (0), T1 (0.5), T2 (1.0) and T3 (1.5 g BSB/kg feed). Data obtained on carcass characteristics, organ weights, and intestinal biometry were analysed statistically. Results showed that BSB was low in crude protein (6.42%) and high in crude fibre (30.65%) and ash (9.35%). Broiler chickens fed diet T1 had significantly higher (P < 0.05) breast and drumstick weights than those offered the other 3 diets. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the abdominal fat pad, liver, proventriculus, gizzard weight, and intestinal biometry of broiler chickens in all the groups. Results also showed that dietary BSB supplementation level had a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on breast, drumstick, liver, proventriculus weight, abdominal fat pad, and intestinal biometry of broiler chickens. In contrast, dietary BSB supplementation levels had linear effect (P < 0.05) on gizzard weight. It can be concluded that BSB is rich in ash and fibre, and is suitable as a feed additive in broiler chicken diets at a level not beyond 0.5 g/kg feed for best organ weight, carcass yield, intestinal biometry. Thus, there is potential to utilize BSB for improved productivity of broiler chickens.