Response of Crude Onion Extract on Carcass Characteristic and Nutrient Digestibility of Broiler Chicken

*1Maru, A. S., 2Adamu, S. B., 2Mohammed G., 2Kolo.U. M. 1Mohammed, A. and 1Balami, S. I.

1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of General Agriculture, Borno State University, Nigeria
2Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

*Corresponding author’s Email: umarsandamaru@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.242322


ABSTRACT

The impact of onion extract on the nutritional digestibility and carcass features of broiler chickens was examined in this study. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) (mixed sex) day-old Abor acre strain of broiler chicks were used and the study lasted for eight (8) weeks. The chickens were randomly assigned to five dietary treatment groups with thirty (30) birds per treatment. Each group was replicated three times with ten (10) birds per replicate in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The onions extract was supplied to the birds via drinking water at graded levels of 0.00 (control), 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and1.00% corresponding to T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Carcass characteristics showed that significant (P<0.05) difference were observed for plucked weight, drumstick, abdominal fat and heart while other parameter were not significantly (P>0.05) differs among treatment groups. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences for all the digestibility parameters examined except for ether extract digestibility (EED). Ether extract digestibility of birds on T3 (0.75%) and T5 (1.00%) had ether extract digestibility that was considerably (P<0.05) higher than that of the other treatment groups. The study’s finding indicate that Broiler chickens fed onion extract at varying levels of supplementation did not experience any negative effects on carcass characteristics and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens.

Keywords:

Onion extract,
Broiler chickens,
Carcass characteristics,
Nutrient digestibility,