The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of gamma-irradiated carrageenan extract on the growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics of broilers. A total of one hundred twenty broilers were used in this study.

A total of one hundred twenty (120) broilers were randomly distributed to four treatment groups with three replication and ten broilers were assigned in each replicate The experiment was laid in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) and the data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Treatment I was assigned as the negative control, treatment 2 were supplemented with 5% of gamma-irradiated carrageenan extract solution, treatment 3 were supplemented with 10% gamma-irradiated carrageenan extract solution and treatment 4 were supplemented with 15% gamma-irradiated carrageenan extract solution The broilers were supplemented with gamma-irradiated carrageenan extract throughout the trial.

Statistically, there were significant differences in the mean weight among all the treatment groups during days 28 and 35 On day 28, treatment 2 had the highest mean weight of 999 000 grams followed by treatment 3 (939 833 grams), treatment 4 (886 066 grams) and treatment 1 (841 100 grams). On day 35, treatment 2 maintained the highest mean weight and followed by treatment 3, treatment 4 and treatment 1, respectively Based on analyzed data of ADG among treatment groups, treatment 2 had the highest ADG while treatment I had the least ADG. In terms of FCR treatment I had the highest FCR and treatment 2 had the least FCR.

After the broilers were slaughtered, analysis showed that there were significant results on carcass recovery Treatment 1 carcass recovery is 797.000 grams, while treatments 2, 3 and 4 were 898.333 grams, 928.777 grams and 918 666 grams, respectively. Aside from the breast, wings and shank, statistical analysis showed that there were no significant differences on head, neck, back, legs, thigh and abdominal among all treatment groups. There were also no significant results on water holding capacity and percentage cooking loss.

The result of the study showed that supplementation of 5% and 10% gamma-irradiated carrageenan extract solution on day 28 and day 35 resulted in gain.

Thesis (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine)

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