Carcass Yield and Internal Organs Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Fed Three Millet Varieties as Replacement for Maize Dietary

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the carcass yield and meat quality of broiler chickens fed three millet variety-based diets as replacement for maize. Four experimental diets were formulated and designated as T1 (control), T2 (pearl millet), T3 (finger millet) and T4 (Dauro millet) diets, replacing maize respectively. One hundred and eighty Anak 2000-day old train broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 45 chicks per treatment, each replicated three times with 15 chicks per replicate. Feed and water were provided ad libitum and the feeding trial lasted for 49 days. The results of the carcass yield and internal organs characteristics did not differ significantly(p>0.05) across the treatment groups. Neck weight (3.86-5.81g) and small intestine length (99.33 117.33cm) were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. It was concluded that local millet varieties can be used to replace maize in broiler diets without adverse effects on carcass yield and meat quality of broiler chickens. The study therefore recommended that farmers should make use of locally available millet varieties as an alternative energy source in broiler chicken production.