Effects of addition of hibiscus (H. esculentus) to broiler rations on performance, meat quality and shelf life

In this research, live weight, live weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion rate, hot carcass weight and yield, some internal organs (bursa Fabricus, gizzard, glandular stomach, heart, spleen, liver, etc.) cloaca fat and intestine) weights, serum biochemical (ALT, ALP, AST, HDL, LDL, CHOL, TG) values, litter and feces pH, dry matter, ammonia nitrogen values, breast meat and thigh meat pH, small intestine pH parameters, fecal microbiology, meat quality and effects on shelf life were carried out to determine their effects. The study included 1 negative and 1 positive control group and 3 experimental groups, each containing 56 animals. Each group consists of 7 subgroups consisting of 8 chicks. 0,2, 0,4 and 0,6 g/kg hibiscus (H. esculentus) was added to the diets of the experimental group. While no addition was made to the negative control group, vitamin E was added to the positive control group. The study was continued for 42 days. Live weight, live weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were determined in the groups on the 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of the experiment. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether there was a statistical difference between the studied groups. Tukey's test was used to compare groups in pairs if there was a statistically significant difference. In addition, to control whether the evaluated parameters changed depending on the dose increase in the experimental groups, trend analysis was performed using the polynomial model (linear, quadratic) in One-Way Analysis of Variance. It was observed that the addition of hibiscus (H.esculentus) added to broiler rations at different levels did not have a statistical effect on performance, carcass parameters, internal organ weights, feed consumption and feed conversion rates (p>0.05). However, live weight data on day 7 and 8-14. The feed consumption between days was found to be significant. A significant change was detected in Bursa Fabricus and liver weights with the increase in dose. Statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of TG and LDL values (p<0.05). It was determined that the effect on the amount of feces and litter dry matter, ammonia nitrogen and pH levels was not statistically significant. However, the litter dry matter level improved. The effect of Hibiscus (H. esculentus) supplementation on the pH of breast and thigh meat, and the ratio of jejunum and ileum pH was found to be statistically insignificant (p>0.05). The pH values of the thigh meat on the 5th day were found to be statistically significant. No statistically significant results were obtained in thawing loss, drip loss, and water holding capacity in breast meat (p>0.05). In the microbiological analyzes of samples taken from breast meat, statistically significant results could not be obtained in Pseudomonas spp and E.coli, but it was determined that there was a decrease in microbial load with increasing dose, while significant results were found in aerobic mesophilic total bacterial load. In chemical analysis, significant results could not be determined in oil and moisture data, but significant data were obtained in salt analysis results. In the microbiological analyzes performed in the stool, there was no difference in terms of Pseudomonas Spp and Aerobic mesophilic total bacteria, but significant data were obtained in the E.coli analysis results depending on the dose increase. It has been concluded that hibiscus can be safely used as an antioxidant and antimicrobial feed additive in broiler rations.