Effects of Early Feed Restriction on Internal Organ and Carcss Weights of Unsexed Broilers

Urip Santoso
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bengkulu University, Bengkulu Indonesia

Abstract (J. Trop. Anim. Dev., 27 (2): 61-66, 2002)
The study was conducted to evaluate effect of early feed restriction on internal organ and carcass weights of broiler chickens. Three hundred 7-day old unsexed broiler were randomly assigned to one of ten treatment groups as follows. Chicks were fed ad libitum as the control (Po), and other 9 groups were feed-restricted at level of 25% ad libitum for 3 (P1), 6 (P2) or 9 days (P3), 50% ad libitum for 3 (P4), 6 (P5) or 9 days (P6), or 75% ad libitum for 3 (P7), 6 (P8) or 9 days (P9), respectively. All chicks were fed ad libitum after the end of feed restriction. In comparison with the control, P6, P7, P8, P9 had significantly higher heart weight. Gizzard weight was significantly higher in P1, P2, P3 and P7 (P<0.05). Spleen weight was significantly higher in P1, P5, P6, P8. Intestine weight was significantly higher in P3, P5, P6, P8 as compared with Po at 42 days of age. At 56 days of age, heart weight was significantly higher in P3, P6 as compared with the Po (P<0.05). Liver weight was significantly lower in P4, P7 (P<0.05). Spleen weight was significantly lower in restricted chicks (P<0.05). At 56 days of age, carcass weights and their parts were not significantly different. In conclusion, the capacity of internal organ especially gastrointestinal tract was increased during refeeding period till 42 days of age to allow the broiler chickens achieve the normal weight at a given age.
Key words: internal organ, carcass, early feed restriction, unsexed broilers