Growth, Carcass, Offal, Meat Yield and Quality of Broiler Chickens Offered Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Calyx Extracts

Four concentrations of roselle calyx extract-RCE excluding water only-T1 were prepared by hot-water extraction at 100°C for 10minutes using 5 (T2), 10 (T3), 15 (T4) and 20 (T5) grams roselle calyx-RC per Liter of water (g RC/L). These with T1 were offered as drinking water to 28-day-old Arbor Acres chickens (n=210, r=6) for 21 days. Weight gain-WG, feed intake-FI, feed conversion ratio-FCR and final weight-FW were assessed. At 49 days old, 2-birds/replicate were sacrificed. Percent-% in carcass yield-(breast weight-BRW, thigh weight-TWG, drumstick weight-DWG), external offal-(head, neck, shank), internal offal-(gizzard, liver, heart, abdominal fat) and meat yield-(breast meat-BM, thigh meat-TM and drumstick meat-DM) were assessed. Selected BM were boiled and assessed for colour-(redness-a*, yellowness-b*, lightness-L*) and sensory qualities-(flavour and juiciness). Data were analyzed using ANOVA at α0.05. FW-(1571.90±32.64g) and WG-(40.86±40.45g) in T5 were significantly-(p