Histological examination and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken dosed varying levels of onion extract

Onu EO 1, Ugwuoke HC 1, Onu MC 2, Ugwu CM 1, * and Emmanuel Vera-Anita 1

1 Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
2 Department of Veterinary Physiology/Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2024, 11(02), 322–329.
Article DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2024.11.2.0406
Publication history: 
Received on 27 January 2024; revised on 06 March 2024; accepted on 09 March 2024
 
Abstract: 
This experiment was designed to determine the effect of onion extract on histological response and carcass characteristics of finisher broilers. Sixty day old chicks of Cobb 500 strain were used for this study which lasted for four weeks. The day old chicks were purchased from Ibadan, Nigeria. The chicks on arrival were brooded for four weeks using normal starter feed (New hope brand). At the expiration of four weeks brooding period the broilers were randomly assigned to three treatment groups with three replicates in a completely randomized design (CRD). The onion bulbs were purchased from Ogige market in Nsukka town, Enugu State, Nigeria. The aqueous onion extract were prepared by slicing, soaking and extracting the active ingredients from the onions. The extract was diluted at different concentrations such as; 0.5g/ml, 1.0g/ml and 1.5g/ml of clean water for T2, T3 and T4 respectively. T1 had no onion extract and as such served as control. The onion extracts were administered to the birds every 48 hours using dropper. Water and feed were given ad libitum to the birds. The result obtained showed normal hepatocytes with acinar-like arrangement and central vein with no abnormal changes in all the organs examined. In conclusion, it has been revealed that the dietary onion extract enhanced the histological features and carcass characteristics of finisher broilers without any detrimental effects on the organs. We therefore, recommend the use of T3(1.0g/ml) which had highest dressed carcass yield to farmers for optimum gain.
 
Keywords: 
Histology; Carcass; Broiler; Onion extract
 
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