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¹ Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Adekunle Ajasin University, P.M.B. 001, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria DOI : 10.38042 - The use of monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a potential taste enhancer in poultry nutrition is discouraged due to its perceived adverse effects. Hence, this study evaluated the impacts of turmeric powder (TP) on performance and some meat qualities of chickens fed MSG. Three hundred broilers were divided into four diets: T₁ (control), T₂ (1.25 g MSG/kg), T₃ (1.25 g MSG/kg and 1.25 g TP/kg), and T₄ (1.25 g MSG/kg and 2.50 g TP/kg). Results indicated increased (P<0.05) feed intake with a decrease (P<0.05) in weight gain resulting in poor feed conversion ratio (P<0.05) in T₂. However, inclusions of TP positively enhanced (P<0.05) these parameters in T₃ and T₄. Carcass characteristics did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between T₁ and T₂ but were improved (P<0.05) in T₃ and T₄. Organ weights were higher (P<0.05) in T₂ but were restored (P<0.05) in T₃ and T₄. While meat CAT and GSH-Px decreased (P<0.05), and MDA and cholesterol increased (P<0.05) in T₂, significant reversal of these trends was observed in T₃ and T₄. Hence, the inclusion of MSG without TP led to compromised performance, carcass, organ weights, and meat antioxidant enzymes in T₂ while they were ameliorated in T₃ and T₄. Keywords : Antioxidant enzymes Broilers Carcass traits Intestinal microflora Turmeric