Effect of Addition of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Fruit Powder to the Drinking Water of Broiler Chicks on the Performance and Carcass characteristics

Abstract

The study was carried out to examine the effects of supplementation of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit powder to the drinking water of broiler chicks on the performance and carcass quality. A total of 160 one – day – old unsexed broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used. The experiment lasted 6 weeks (42 day). Isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were offered to birds. Four different levels of Baobab fruit Powder (0g/L, 1g/L, 2g/L and 3g/L) were added to the drinking water of broiler chicks. Each treatment was offered to 40 chicks (10 chicks X 4 replicates). The experiment was carried out at an open-house system. Live body weight, body weight gain and feed intake were recorded weekly for each replicate. In addition to, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency rate were calculated weekly. At the end of the experiment (6 weeks of age) two birds from each pen were randomly selected, weighed and manually slaughtered for carcass characteristics and internal organ determination. Results showed absence of significant effect (P≥0.05) on feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, Feed consumption, live body weight and body weight gain during starter, finisher and whole periods. Regarding carcass characteristics, the use of Baobab fruits produced significant (P≤0.05) effects on Absolute and relative weights of liver, relative weight of gizzard, absolute weight of intestine and intestine length. It has been concluded that, inclusion of Baobab fruits into the broiler drinking water at the levels (1g/L, 2g/L and 3g/L) has no significant effect on broiler performance and some items of carcass yields, therefore, more researches are needed to examine inclusion of Baobab into broilers diet and drinking water.