Mineral profiling, carcass quality and sensory evaluation of broiler chicken fed basal proprietary diets supplemented with leaf meals

An investigation to determine the mineral composition, carcass quality and organoleptic properties of the meat of broilers fed basal broiler feeds supplemented with different leaf meals was conducted. Four treatments: basal proprietary broiler feed only (T1 - PBF) as control, basal proprietary broiler feeds supplemented with Aspilia africana (T2 - PBF + ASLM), Centrosema pubescence (T3 - PBF + CLM) and Neem (T4 - PBF + NLM) were utilized in a completely randomized design (CRD). On the last day of a 63-day feeding and growth trial, a chunk of breast meat samples were taken from 3 birds per dietary treatment for proximate and mineral analysis. Similarly, the bulk (800g) of the thigh and breast muscles from the broilers fed the test feeds were deboned, washed, mixed in 0.4% of iodized common salt, cut into 2.5 – 3.0cm pieces and boiled in a pot at a cooking temperature range above 100oC for 20 minutes for sensory evaluation. Results revealed that meat of broilers fed supplementalleaf meals (especially T3 - PBF + CLM and T4 - PBF + NLM) were higher and better in mineral concentration than those fed sole broiler diets. The overall acceptability of the broiler based on various sensory parameters (colour, flavour, toughness, tenderness and juiciness) revealed a betterpreference by consumers of meat of broilers fed the feeds supplemented with the leaf meals. It is therefore recommended that poultry farmers resort to these leaf meals to improve the quality of meat in terms of mineral fortification and acceptability.Key words: Leaf meals, broiler meat, mineral composition, carcass quality and sensory evaluation