ABSTRACT

A 56-day feeding tiial involving sixty (60)8 weeks old turkey poults was conducted to evaluate

the organ and carcass characteristics of grower turkeys fed varying dietary levels of Toasted

Bambara Groundnut Offal. The poults were divided into five (5) dietary treatments in which

toasted Bambara Groundnut offal was incorporated at levels of 0 (control), 7.5. 15, 22.5 and

30%, designated diet Ti, T2, T3, T4and T5respectively, Twelve (12) birds were allocated in a

treatment which was replicated three (3) times with four (4) birds per replicate in a completely

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thereafter. Experimental diet and water were provided ad libituin. At sixteen (16) weeks of age

and 56th day of the experiment, a bird per replicate was weighed, selected, starved of feed for

12 hours and slaughtered for evaluation of carcass and organ characteristics. Parameters

measured were live weight at slaughter, eviscerated weight, dressed weight, dressing

percentage, cut parts (Back, Breast, wing, Drumstick etc.) and organs (abdominal fat, gizzard

and proventriculus, liver, kidney, heart etc.). The result of the experiment shows that birds fed

T5had significant (P <0.05) heavier live weight at slaughter (2763.33g) eviscerated weight

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(2133.33g), Eviscerated weight (1583.33g), Dressed weight (1463.33)], T2[live weight at

slaughter (2583.33g), Eviscerated weight (1903.33g), Dressed weight (1749.67)]. 1' live

weight at slaughter (2433.33g), Eviscerated weight (1766.67), Dressed weight (1616. 67) and

T4 [live weight at slaughter (2613.33g), Eviscerated weight (1916.67g), Dressed weight

(1763.33g)i. Dressing percentage of birds in diet Ti(68.52%) were significantly (P < 0.05)

higher than birds in diet T3(66.43%) and similar to birds in diet T2(67.80%), T4(67.48) and

T5(67.43). In cut parts. breast of birds fed Ti(16.64%) had significant (P <0.05) different to

birds in diet T4(14.42%) and similar to birds in T2(16.13%), T3(15.82%) and T5(15.48). neck

of birds fed diet T4(5 .04%) differ significantly (P <0.05) to birds fed diet Ti(4. 75%) and similar

to birds in diet T2(4.89%). T3(4.96) and T5(4.92%). However, birds fed diet T5had similar live

weight at slaughter, eviscerated weight and dressed weight to birds fed diet T2. T3and T4. In

organ characteristics, parameters measured were lungs (0.59%), liver (1.52%), abdominal fat

(0.38%) of birds fed diet T5 differ significantly (P <0.05) to birds fed diet Ti lung (0.57%),

Liver (1.43%), abdominal fat (0.29%) and similar to birds fed T2lung (0.61%), liver (1.56%),

abdominal fat (0.34%), Ts lung (0.63%), liver (1.53%), abdominal fat (0.35%) and T4lung

(0.62%). liver (1.52%), abdominal fat (0.3 6%). The inclusion of toasted Bambara groundnut

offal in the diets do not significantly (P>0.05) influence parameters like back cut, wing,

drumstick, thigh, shank and head. The result of this trial suggests that toasted Bambara

groundnut offal diet could be incorporated in turkeys grower ration up to 30% without

adversely affecting organ and carcass characteristics of grower turkeys.