Carcass Characteristics and Internal Organs of Broilers Fed Varying Levels of Full Fat Palm Kernel Meal

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the proximate composition of Full Fat Palm Kernel Meal (FFPKM) and the effect of feeding diets with graded level of FFPKM on the carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 144 day old broiler chicks of Anak breeds were assigned to 4 experimental diets in a completely randomized design. The birds were fed graded levels (0, 5.0, 7.50 and 10.20 % at starter and 0, 7.0, 9.50 and 14.30 % at the finisher) of FFPKM in partial replacement of maize and palm kernel cake. Data were recorded on feed intake and weekly weight changes. On day 56 of the experiment, nine birds per treatment were randomly selected from each of the replicates, starved overnight and slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics. The proximate analysis showed that Full Fat Palm Kernel meal is rich in protein (11.50 %) and fat (50.70 %). Although there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in carcass yield and cut parts, birds fed diet 4 with the highest inclusion level of FFPKM recorded the highest values in dressing percentage and thigh cut, indicating better performance. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the weights of crop, gizzard and kidney. Thus, FFPKM can replace maize and palm kernel cake up to 14.30 % in broiler diets without any deleterious effects on carcass quality and internal organs like the liver.

Keywords: full fat palm kernel meal, proximate composition, broilers, carcass, internal organs.