Effect of gradual inclusion of papua foxtail millet (Setaria italica sp) to substitute yellow corn on breast meat quality and blood profiles in broilers

Abstract An experiment was carried out to examine effect of gradual inclusion of Papua foxtail millet (Setaria italica sp) to substitute yellow corn on breast meat quality and blood profiles in broilers. Two hundred and fifty day old chicks were used and alloted to 25 experimental units of 10 chicks. Five different dietary treatments were set, namely (i) T0 = basal feed, (ii) T1 = basal feed of which 2.5 % of yellow corn was substituted by Papua foxtail millet, (iii) T2 = basal feed of which 5.0 % of yellow corn was substituted by Papua foxtail millet, (iv) T3 = basal feed of which 7.5 % of yellow corn was substituted by Papua foxtail millet, (v) T4 = basal feed of which 10.0 % of yellow corn was substituted by Papua foxtail millet. All dietary treatments were set as iso-protein and iso-energy. At the end of experiment 2 birds in each experimental unit was selected, 25 birds were slaughtered and breast meats were sampled. Blood samples were taken from another 25 birds. On the basis of meat quality, water content, water holding capacity, colour and tenderness were analyzed. While for blood profiles, the measured variables included concentrations of serum haemoglobin, erythrocite, glukose and triglyceride. The results showed that level of Papua foxtail millet (Setaria italica sp) did dose dependently improve (P>0.05) tenderness of broiler meat, on the other hand redness of broiler meat did significantly change (P<0.01) with tendency less redness colour appear when Papua foxtail millet added more than 5% in the diet. No changes in lightness and yellowness of breast meat were reported. All blood profiles measurements of broiler showed that no physiologycal changes due to inclusion of Papua foxtail millet to replace corn. Based on this research, it is concluded that Papua foxtail millet might be used 10% in the diet to improve tenderness and redness of broiler meat.