Effect of Dietary Levels of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L) Seeds Supplemented with Molasses on Broiler Chicks Performance and Carcass Traits

A farm study was carried out to evaluate the inclusion of safflower seeds supplemented with molasses on broiler chicks performance and carcass traits. A total of one hundred and eight Cobb strain unsexed one day old broiler chicks were distributed into six isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets and each contained three replicates (6birds/replicate) in a complete randomized design. Dietary treatments were a no additives as control (A) and diets containing 5 % safflower seeds without molasses (B), 10 % safflower seeds without molasses (C), 5 % safflower seeds with 3 % molasses (D), 10 % safflower seeds with 3 % molasses (E) and 3 % molasses without safflower seeds (F). Feed and water were provided ad libitum till the termination of the trial after 42 days. Parameters measured were feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), relative weights of internal organs (dressing percentage, liver, gizzard, abdominal fat, heart and shrink percentage) and meat proximate analysis. The results revealed that birds fed on diets containing 5 % safflower seeds with 3 % molasses consumed higher feed. However, no significant (P greater than 0.05) differences were observed between dietary treatment groups for body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), pre slaughter weight, hot carcass, cold carcass and relative weights of liver, abdominal fat, gizzard and heart. Inclusion of 10 % safflower seeds without molasses and 5 % safflower seeds with 3 % molasses decreased shrink relative weight. Birds fed control diet and those received diets C, E and F recorded significantly (P less than 0.05) higher protein content. Moreover, non significant (P greater than 0.05) difference was observed for moisture content, ash content, ether extract and fiber content of meat.