Improving the quality of broiler meat when using sea buckthorn meal in feed

Abstract

Sea buckthorn berries and products of their processing, including meal, have certain prospects in improving broiler meat production. The present paper contains materials on feeding broilers with sea buckthorn meal in the amount of 0.4-0.6% of the basic diet of chickens. Meal was added to the feed of broilers starting with Day 14 and up to Day 49 of age. The feed intake (basic diet), clinical condition of chickens, daily weight gains and preslaughter live weight were considered. The study was carried out by comparing to the group of chickens of the same age that received additional 0.4-0.6% feed instead of 0.4-0.6% of sea buckthorn meal. At the age of 49 day s all chickens were slaughtered for further study of meat characteristics comparing to meat of broilers of the control group. The use of sea buckthorn meal in feeds during 35 days in the amount of about 0.6% of the basic diet provided1 1% increase of daily weight gain of broilers compared to the control group and improved consumer as well as veterinary and sanitary meat characteristics.