DIFERENTES NÍVEIS DE VITAMINA E SOBRE AS CARACTERÍSTAS DE CARCAÇA DE FRANGOS DE CORTE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets containing different levels of vitamin E in the period from 8 to 42 days of age. A total of 288 male broilers of the Cobb 500 strain, fed up to the seventh day of age, with 50% of vitamin E requirements. At eight days of age, the birds were homogenized and the treatments distributed in a completely randomized experimental design, with four treatments and six replicates, with 12 birds each. The treatments consisted of four levels of vitamin E (50%, 100%, 150% and 200%). The carcass yield and noble cuts, abdominal fat, relative weights of the heart, gizzard, liver, intestine, spleen and Fabricius bursa and intestine length were evaluated. Vitamin E levels influenced linear carcass yield. The treatments did not influence the other variables evaluated. Vitamin E levels showed a positive effect only on carcass yield.