Meat quality of broilers fed discarded cashew nut meal in place of soyabean meal

This study examined the meat quality of broilers fed Discarded Cashew Nut Meal (DCNM) in place of Soya Bean Meal (SBM). It evaluates the meat quality of broiler chickens fed diets in which (SBM) was replaced with DCNM using sensory characteristics (appearance and taste) and oxidative stability of refrigerated meat as response criteria. The moisture contents obtained averaging 73.1 +/- 1.8, 73.1 +/- 1.5 and 72.3 +/- 1.6 g(-1) 100 g for thigh, drumstick and breast, respectively. The lipid contents also were within the range of 4 and 12%. These results supported the findings of Ikeme that fat deposition in poultry increased from breast to organs, higher in back and highest in the thigh. However, the lipid contents of meat from broilers fed diets which contained DCNM. at more than 10% (Diets 3-6) were generally significantly higher than those from meat of broilers on the control diet. This shows that the higher the level of DCNM in a diet, the more the fat content of meat from birds fed such diet. It was discovered that the overall acceptability of the broiler meat was not adversely affected by the dietary treatments irrespective of the level of DCNM inclusion. The study concludes that Anti-oxidants may be: added to diets in which DCNM is included to extending shelf life of the meat through reduction in its susceptibility to lipid oxidation.