Performance, carcass and meat quality of broilers raised at a high stocking density and supplemented with encapsulated Cosmos caudatus K. leaf extract

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supplementation of encapsulated Cosmos caudatus K. leaf extract (ECLE) on performance, carcass and meat quality of broilers at high density pens. Three hundred and seventy broiler chicks were divided into 5 treatments and 5 replications. The treatment was conducted on days 15 to 42 in T0 group (10 chicks/m2 + basal feed), T1 (16 chicks/m2 + basal feed), T2 (16 chicks/m2 + basal feed containing ECLE 0.5 g/kg feed), T3 (16 chicks/m2 + ECLE 1.0 g/kg feed), and T4 (16 head/m2 + ECLE 1.5 g/kg feed). ECLE reduced feed consumption, increased body weight gain, improved feed conversion ratio (FCR), increased the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) and European Broiler Index (EBI) in T2 and T3 (P<0.05). Carcass weight and percentage were increased in T3 and T4 (P<0.05). Breast percentage was higher (P<0.05) in T0, T1 and T2; wing and thigh percentages were higher (P<0.05) in T3 and T4; drumstick and giblet percentages were lower (P<0.05) in T3. Drumstick’s pH were higher (P<0.05) in T2, T3 and T4. Thigh fat decreased (P<0.05) at T4. The redness (a*) in T3 and T4 were significantly better. Overall, at high density pens, ECLE at 0.5 g/kg feed enhanced broiler performance, carcass percentage, and breast meat quality.