EFFECTS OF DIETARY LEVELS OF SOYA BEAN RESIDUE MEAL (AWARA) ON CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND INTERNAL ORGANS WEIGHT OF BROILER CHICKENS

A nutritional trial was perform to test the effects of diets containing varying  levels of soya beans by-product popularly known as AwaraResidue Meal (ARM)as plant protein source included in the diets at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%, respectively on carcass characteristics and internal organs weight of broiler chickens. A total of 220 unsexed day old Marshall Broiler line were assigned to five dietary treatments each replicated four times in a completely randomised design (CRD).  All data generated were subjected to one way analysis of variance. Results indicated thatbirds fed 5% ARM had 10% and 9% higher (P<0.05) carcass and eviscerated weights compared to those fed the control diet. Inclusion of ARM in the diets affected most of the carcass characteristics and internal organ weights positively (P<0.05). However, birds fed higher levels of ARM (15 and 20%) had 62% higher (P<0.05) abdominal fat than those fed the control diet.  In conclusion, 5% AwaraResidue Meal (ARM) can be included in the dietof broiler chickens  as a plant protein source  on carcass characteristics and internal organ weights. However, higher levels of ARM in broiler diets could lead to high abdominal fat deposition. It is therefore recommended for poultry farmers and feed mill Industries in Nigeria