Effect of amaranth leaf meal on performance, meat and bone characteristics of Boschveld indigenous chickens

This study aimed to determine the effect of amaranth leaf meal inclusion on the performance, meat, and bone characteristics of indigenous Boschveld chickens. A total of 200, day-old, indigenous Boschveld chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatment levels in a completely randomised design, with each treatment having four replicates and each replicate having ten chicks. Amaranth leaf meal (ALM) inclusion levels used in this study were 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%. Bodyweight and feed intake were measured weekly to calculate the feed conversion ratio. Meat and bone characteristics were measured, and the general linear model of statistical analysis software was used to analyse collected data. Chickens which were offered diets with 0 and 10% ALM inclusion levels had higher (p < .05) breast meat weights than those which were offered diets with 5, 15, and 20%. Chickens that were offered diets with 15% ALM levels had higher (p < .05) abdominal fats weights than those offered diets with 0, 5, 10, and 20%. Chickens which were offered 20% ALM in their diets, had higher (p < .05) meat tenderness than those offered 0, 5, 10, and 15%. Chickens which were offered diets with 15% ALM had a lighter and redder (p < .05) breast meat colour than those offered 0, 5, 10, and 15% ALM inclusion levels. At the age of 21 and 42 days, chickens which were offered diets containing 5, 15, and 20% ALM had higher (p < .05) tibia calcium and phosphorus contents than those on diets having 0, and 10% ALM inclusion levels.