Assessment of performance and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens fed diets based on quality protein maize varieties (abontem and etubi) developed in Ghana

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine some growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler birds fed diets based on two quality protein maize varieties (Abontem and Etubi), and a traditional variety. One hundred and twenty Arbor Acre day-old broiler chicks were used in a Completely Randomized Designed experiment. There were 3 treatments, each with 4 replicates of 10 chicks. Feed and water were supplied to birds ad libitum. The parameters measured were initial and final weight, feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion efficiency for birds in each replicate pen. At maturity (8 weeks), three birds from each treatment were randomly selected, tagged and slaughtered; hot carcass and viscera weights were taken for each bird. Carcasses were sectioned into primal cuts after 24-hour chilling at 3°C. Breast muscles were grilled for sensory evaluation by a trained panel of twelve. Breast muscles from slaughtered birds were analysed for moisture, protein and fat content; as well as organoleptic parameters (juiciness, taste, texture, colour and likeness) were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by dietary treatments. However, breast and back muscles differed significantly among dietary treatments (P<0.05). It is recommended that follow–up experiments should be conducted to validate the findings in this work; this should particularly include determination of essential amino acids profile, as well as digestibility of the TM, ETM and ABM maize varieties