A Procedure for Equating Stocking Rate of Broilers When Sexes Are Reared Separately

Abstract

THE common criteria for considering and selecting the house stocking rate for broilers is the number of square meters per bird. This concept is evident not only in commercial practice but also in the scientific literature.Numerous investigators have concluded that stocking rate or bird density affects growth rate of broilers; Tomhave and Seeger (1945), Mehrhof and O’Steen (1948), Thayer et al. (1953), Hansen and Becker (I960), Moreng et al. (1961), and Deaton et al. (1968).Since bird density affects the growth rate of broilers, when sexes are reared separately at one specified stocking rate to a specified age, the bird density as expressed in body weight per square meter of floor area differs. The data in Table 1 demonstrate the magnitude of difference in body weight per square meter of floor area for broilers reared sexes separately at a stocking rate of .073 square meter per bird. These data…