ANTIOXIDANT STATUS AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER FINISHER BIRDS FED STAR FRUIT (AVERRHOA CARAMBOLA) EXTRACT

Abstract

A total of one hundred and twenty Arbo Acre broiler birds were used to evaluate the antioxidant status and serum biochemical characteristics of broiler finisher birds fed star fruit extract. The study lasted for a period of four weeks and the the design adopted was a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments having 30 birds per treatment. The star fruit extract was administered at 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6% and 0% of the water given to T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum throughout the study period. The result obtained showed that at 0.2% star fruit extract had an antioxidant effect (P<0.05) on the broiler finisher birds as shown by the reduced MDA values compared to the control group while at a higher level (0.6%) the star fruit extract reduced SOD and GSH-RD values and increased the MDA values and had a probable harmful effects on the liver cells as shown by the increased (P<0.05) ALP levels in the blood. Also, the catalase, TP, Albumin, Globulin, AST and ALT values obtained showed that birds administered star fruit extract were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of the control group. It could therefore be concluded that lower levels of start fruit can be used as a potential antioxidant in broiler production to ameliorate stress conditions