Journal of Experimental Agriculture International

Aims: The study was carried out to investigate the effect of routine administration of fluoroquinolones on meat quality and cholesterol profile of Arbor Acres broiler chickens.

Study Design: The experiment employed a complete randomized design; all data generated were subjected to analysis of variance, P=0.05.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, between February and April, 2014.

Methodology: One hundred and eighty unsexed one-day old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used in a 48-day study and the birds were distributed into four experimental treatments viz; control, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. Birds were administered with 10 mg/kg body weight of the selected fluoroquinolones on week 2, 4 and 6 for 3 days. Birds in the control group received water without antibiotics throughout the experiment. A week withdrawal period was observed in order to reduce the antibiotics residue in the broiler meat before carrying out meat quality studies. At the end of the withdrawal period (day 48), two birds were slaughtered per replicate to evaluate carcass and meat characteristics.

Results: No significant (P≥0.05) differences were observed amongst the treatments for proximate composition and meat attribute parameters. However, the fluoroquinolones used in this study had higher chilling loss and cooking loss compared to the control which could be a challenge in meat processing industries. Norfloxacin group had the highest mean value for High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) (52.98±1.18) and lowest Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) (14.19±1.29).

Conclusion: Routine administration and adequate withdrawal period of fluoroquinolones could be effective in producing Arbor Acres broilers with excellent cholesterol profile and meat quality.