Abstract
Effect of Stocking Density and Quantitative Feed Restriction on Growth Performance, Digestibility, Haematological Characteristics and Cost of Starting Broiler Chicks
Highlights
The advent of great breakthrough in animal breeding coupled with better animal production and nutritional management practices had led to the selection of broiler chickens with rapid growth rate that reach the slaughter weight within a short time period (Mohammad et al, 2012)
Stocking density had no significant effect (p>0.05) on the body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) among the treatment means (Table 2). This result agrees with the report of Fairchild (2005) and Tong et al, (2012) who reported that stocking density had no significant effect on the growth performance, this was at variance with
0.05) affected the daily weight gain where birds on F3 treatment had a significantly lowest weight gain of 16.40g compared to 22.95g in F1 birds, this reduction in weight gain could be as a result of lower feed intake per bird due to the feed restriction treatments (Zhan et al, 2007)
Summary
The advent of great breakthrough in animal breeding coupled with better animal production and nutritional management practices had led to the selection of broiler chickens with rapid growth rate that reach the slaughter weight within a short time period (Mohammad et al, 2012) Most of these birds are imported from the temperate to the tropical regions for adaptation and productivity. Most tropical poultry farmers used to overcrowd their stocks which negatively mask growth performance characteristics resulting in loss of stock and higher mortality and loss in the economics of poultry production business (Olomu and Offiong, 1980; Oluyemi and Roberts, 2000) These overcrowding are mostly done in an attempt to cover the costs incurred in housing, feeding and medication of poultry birds, most farmers do not have the knowledge of adequate stocking density to use (Muniz et al, 2006; Adebiyi et al, 2011). The objective of this research is to determine the effect of different stocking density and feed restriction regimen at the starter phase of the broiler chicks on feed efficiency, growth performance, digestibility and haematological characteristics at the end of the rearing period
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
