EFFECT OF AVOCADO SEED MEAL AND FEED RESTRICTION PROGRAM ON CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND RELATIVE ORGAN WEIGHT OF BROILER CHICKEN

This study investigated the effects of Avocado Seed Meal (ASM) supplementation and feed restriction on the carcass characteristics, relative organ weights, and antioxidant enzymes levels in the heart of broiler chickens. A total of sixty 1-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly divided into four diet treatment groups: T1 (basal diet without avocado seed meal and feed restriction), Diet T2 (basal diet supplemented with 3000 mg/kg avocado seed meal and without feed restriction), Diet T3 (basal diet without avocado seed meal and subjected to 8 hours/day of feed restriction8 hours/day feed restriction), and Diet T4 (basal diet supplemented with 3000 mg/kg avocado seed meal and subjected to 8 hours/day of feed restriction). Each treatment were replicated thrice and each treatment group consisted of 15 birds (5 birds per replicate). The results showed that broiler chickens on diet T1 and T2 had higher slaughtered and dressed weights (p < 0.05) compared to those on diet T3 and T4. The result show that unrestricted group fed a diet supplemented with ASM had the highest dressing percentage, while the restricted group without ASM had the lowest dressing percentage. Also liver weight was significantly higher in the restricted group fed a diet supplemented with ASM compared to the other groups. The result indicate that unrestricted group without ASM supplementation had the highest SOD activity, while the restricted group with ASM supplementation had the lowest activity. These findings suggest that ASM supplementation at 3000mg/kg without restriction improve the carcass characteristics, relative organ weights, and antioxidant enzymes levels in the heart of broiler chickens.