The Effects of Alfalfa Flour Added to the Mixed Feed on Carcass Characteristics, Relative Organ Weights, Intestinal Viscosity, Shank and Foot Color of Organic Broilers

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this study was conducted to determine the effects of organic alfalfa flour on organic slow-growing broilers on carcass characteristics, relative organ weights, intestinal viscosity, shank and foot color values. A total of 225 days old male and female mixed Hubbard Red JA broiler chicks were used during the study. Those chicks were divided into 3 treatment groups with 5 replicate (n=15) as so differences of live weights of them were insignificant for statistics. During the study (77 days), compounds, which include alfalfa flour with a ratio of 0%, 5% and 10% were used. At the end of the experiment, there were significant differences determined in carcass weight, relative weights of pancreas, proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, ileum + jejunum and colon (P 0.05), while carcass yields, relative weights of breast, thigh, abdominal fat, liver, heart, spleen, pancreas, bursa fabricius, cecum and intestinal viscosity did not change (P 0.05). Supplementary alfalfa meal had no effect on shank lightness and yellowness and foot yellowness (P 0.05), but supplementation of alfalfa was increased shank redness and foot lightness and redness (on 5% group) (P 0.05). Research is required for the determination of the effects of roughage and its appropriate level, which is added in mixed forage of the poultry used for the nutrition as well as used in the roam fields of the poultry.

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Organic broiler , alfalfa flour , carcass characteristics , relative organ weights and intestinal viscosity

The Journal Of Ege University Faculty Of Agriculture

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The Journal Of Ege University Faculty Of Agriculture