GROWTH, VARIABILITY OF GROWTH, AND MARKET QUALITY OF BROILERS ON MASH AND PELLETS

Abstract

Floor-reared broilers fed a broiler ration in pellet form were heavier at all ages (6, 9, 10 and 11 weeks) than birds fed the same ration in mash form. The percentage difference in weight between mash and pellet-fed birds increased to a maximum at 11 weeks for males and at 10 weeks for females. Four different genotypes (broiler strains) all showed a growth response to pellets although there was some evidence of a differential response.Coefficients of variation of body weight were higher at all ages for pellet-fed birds of both sexes. Females generally had higher coefficients of variation than males of comparable age on the same form of feed. For both sexes there was a slight tendency toward lower coefficients of variation with age. The data also indicated that, on both mash and pellets, separate rearing of the sexes resulted in greater variability than rearing the sexes together. There were, however, no differences in body weight due to the method of rearing the sexes. Among pellet-fed birds there was a greater incidence of breast blisters and incomplete back-feathering and the latter resulted in down-grading for dressing. Pellet-fed birds however graded higher for fat.