EFFECTS OF ALKALI TREATMENT OF SOYABEAN ON CARCASS TRAITS, INTESTINAL MORPHOLOGY AND COOKING YIELD OF BROILERS

The effects of different alkali treatment of soyabeans on carcass traits, intestinal morphology and cooking yield of broilers was evaluated using 240 Anak broilers day-old chicks that were allocated into four (4) treatments of three (3) replicates as thus: Soaking in water (H20)- T1, sodium carbonate(Na2CO3) –T2, potash (K2CO3) –T3 and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) -T4 based groups. Five birds were selected from each group and fasted for 8 h prior to carcass evaluation. Plucked weight percentage did not vary significantly (P>0.05) among processed broilers, but significant (P<0.05) differences were recorded in the eviscerated weights. Neck, breast and primal cut-up parts varied significantly (P<0.05). No significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in the values for head, wing and shank. Intestinal weight and organs like lungs, liver, gizzard, heart, kidney spleen and abdominal fat deposition significantly (P<0.05) varied. Cooking yield was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in 1% NaOH. The best percentages for the fleshy primal cuts parts and the meat/bone ratio were 9.20% of breast in 1% Potash; 5.20% of thighs and 4.93% of drumstick all recorded in 1% Potash group and so also 4.35 ratio of meat to bone was recorded in 1% K2CO3. Alkaline treatment of soyabeans with 1% K2CO3is recommended for improved carcass yield in broilers.