Carcass, Internal Organ Characteristics and GIT Morphometry of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Containing Fermented Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) Peel Meal (FSOPM) as a Replacement of Maize

The experiment was carried out to determine the effect of fermented sweet orange peel meal (FSOPM) as a replacement of maize on carcass, internal organs characteristics and GIT morphometry of broiler chicken. Fresh sweet orange peel (SOP), and fresh rumen content (RC) were collected and thoroughly mixed to obtain a homogenous mixture in a ratio of 1: 0.3 (SOP:RC) respectively. The mixture was fermented for 48 hours and sun-dried to < 10% moisture. The fermented SOP was milled to obtain FSOPM. The FSOPM was sub-sampled and its proximate composition determined, after which it was included at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% respectively in the diets. 216 day – old Marshal MY broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments in a complete randomized design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 2 birds in each replicate. The birds were fed the test diets for 56 days and carcass, internal organs and GIT were evaluated. The fasted weight, eviscerated weight, dressed weight, dressing percentage, thigh, wing, head, shank, abdominal fat, empty gizzard, liver, kidney, proventriculus, bile, GIT weight, large intestine and small intestine were significantly different (p < 0.05). Inclusion of FSOM increased carcass cut, internal organs and the GIT morphometry; and recessed abdominal fat pad of broiler chickens. It was concluded that 10% FSOPM replacement of maize was safe and optimum for broiler chicken production.