Sensory Evaluation and Fatty Acid Composition of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Containing with Prosopis Africana Essential Oil

Abstract

Exploring the use of phytogenic components in plants is one of the ways to ensure safety in food and sustainable livestock production. This experiment was designed to investigate the sensory evaluation and fatty acid composition of broiler chickens fed diets containing Prosopis africana essential oil. A total of 540 – one- day- old broiler chicks (Arbo Acres) were randomly distributed into 6 treatments, each containing six replicates of 15 birds. Experimental diets were adequate in all nutrients (NRC, 1994). Birds in treatment one was fed basal diet without Prosopis africana oil, basal diet with antibiotic growth promoter (oxytetracycline at 2.5 g/kilogram) was fed to treatment two while treatment three, four, five and six were fed basal diet supplemented with 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg and 800 mg per kilogram respectively. Completely randomized design was used and the experiment lasted for 56 days. Feed and fresh water were offered ad libitum and other management practices were rigorously followed. Result revealed that the composition of total monosaturated fatty acid and total polyunsaturated fatty acid were significantly (P˂0.05) influenced by the treatments. Total saturated fatty acid (TSFA) levels decreases as the level of Prosopis africana oil increases across the treatments (P˂0.05). TSFA values were highest in treatment 1, intermediate in treatment 2 and lowest in treatment three through six. Omega 3: omega 6 fatty acid and artheriogenicity index were significantly (P˂0.05) different among the treatments. Prosopis africana oil also influenced color, flavor, tenderness, juiciness, texture, and general acceptability of broilers meat.  It was concluded that the dietary supplementation of Prosopis africana oil has a number of phyto-constituents that can modify the fatty acid of meat, enhancing its quality, shelf life and sensory attributes. Without having a negative impact on the health of birds. It can be added to the diet of broiler chickens up to 800 mg per kilogram.