Abstract:

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is a natural organic acid in the body that acts as a precursor of creatine which plays the role of energy carrier in the cell This study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing broiler chicken feed with GAA on carcass characteristics. Two hundred-and forty, day old Cornish breeds were kept under a deep litter system. Six treatments with four replicates of 10 birds per replica were used. The experimental diets comprised of six treatments with varying levels of feed additive (GAA) supplemented in the diets D1 (control) with no GAA, D2 was supplemented with (0.003% GAA/kg), D3 (0.006% GAA/kg), D4 (0.009% GAA/kg), D5 (0.012% GAA/kg), and D6 (0.015% GAA/kg). The treatments were laid down in a complete randomized design (CRD) with four replicates. Carcass characteristics were determined in the laboratory by analyzing the (abdominal fat, tissue protein, tissue fat and pH). There were statistically significant effects observed on abdominal fat, body tissue protein and body tissue fat of the carcass. The study concluded that GAA supplementation increased carcass characteristics, and provided better economic returns. The study recommends utilization of GAA supplementation at level of 0.12% GAA/Kg for rapid growth of broiler, enhanced abdominal fat, body tissue protein, body tissue fat, and utilization of GAA for better economic returns to the farmers.

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