Dietary cinnamon and clay effects on growth, meat quality, and bones in broilers
https://doi.org/10.21323/2414-438X-2026-11-2-158-165
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the effects of a diet supplementation of a mixture of cinnamon powder and clay (kaolin or marl) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and tibial morphometric characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 120 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to three dietary treatment groups: control (CON), a mixture of 0.3 % cinnamon powder and 2.7 % kaolin (KCP), and a blend of 0.3 % cinnamon powder and 2.7 % marl (MCP), with five replicates of eight birds per treatment group. The results revealed that body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were significantly higher in birds receiving KCP or MCP mixture than in birds receiving CON (p < 0.05). Additionally, these groups exhibited superior carcass traits, including increased dressing percentage, higher breast and thigh weights, and reduced abdominal fat. The pH values at 24 h were higher in the KCP and MCP groups compared to the CON group. Additionally, these treatments resulted in a significant reduction in drip and cooking losses, indicating improved water-holding capacity and enhanced bone health in the tibia. Therefore, it was inferred that a combination of cinnamon powder and silicate minerals is a viable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler diets to improve growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and bone quality.
About the Authors
Z. A. Gaid
Laboratory of Environment, Animal Production and Health, Institute of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Batna 1
Algeria
Algeria
Zohra Ahmed Gaid, MSc, PhD Student
Batna
S. K. Chabane
Laboratory of Environment, Animal Production and Health, Institute of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Batna 1; Observation and Experimentation Station in Steppe Environments — AFLOU, Scientific and Technical Research Center for Arid Regions
Algeria
Algeria
Sidahmed Khaldoun Chabane, MSc, PhD Student
Batna
Y. Kasmi
Laboratory of Environment, Animal Production and Health, Institute of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Batna 1; Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of El Oued
Algeria
Algeria
Yacine Kasmi, MSc, PhD Student
Batna
B. Hamad
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of El Oued; Laboratory of Hygiene and Animal Pathology, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tiaret
Algeria
Algeria
Brahim Hamad, PhD, Professor, Teacher Researcher
39000 El Oued, Algeria
L. Hadef
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of El Oued; Laboratory of Hygiene and Animal Pathology, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tiaret
Algeria
Algeria
Leyla Hadef, PhD, Professor, Teacher Researcher
39000 El Oued, Algeria
O. Bennoune
Laboratory of Environment, Animal Production and Health, Institute of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Batna 1
Algeria
Algeria
Omar Bennoune, PhD, Professor, Teacher Researcher, Department of Veterinary Medicine
Batna
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For citations:
Gaid Z.A., Chabane S.K., Kasmi Y., Hamad B., Hadef L., Bennoune O. Dietary cinnamon and clay effects on growth, meat quality, and bones in broilers. Theory and practice of meat processing. 2026;11(2):158-165. https://doi.org/10.21323/2414-438X-2026-11-2-158-165
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