Effect of Orange (Citrus sinensis) Peels Enriched Feed on Meat Quality and Antioxidant Status of Fed Broiler Chicken

Abstract

Orange peels are usually considered waste products and constitute an environmental menace. Interestingly, the peels are rich in bioactive compounds that could benefit humans and animals, including poultry. This study investigated the meat quality and antioxidant status of broiler chicken fed with orange peel-enriched feeds. In a completely randomized design, fifty-day-old birds were fed with 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% orange peel inclusion feed for three weeks with twelve (12) chicks per group. Thereafter, the birds were sacrificed and the antioxidant status, meat quality, cooking and thaw losses, and water absorption power were assessed. The results revealed that feed with orange peel inclusion significantly (p≤ 0.05) improved the meat quality of the birds in terms of percentage water loss. The results also revealed that an increased percentage inclusion of the peels in the feed boosted (p ≤ 0.05) antioxidant status by increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione s-transferase, and reduced glutathione, and reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive species levels in the flesh of the breast, drumstick, and thigh of the birds. This study indicates that orange peels could be channeled to animal feed as they improve meat quality and antioxidant status, which could add value to poultry farmers and consumers.