Abstract
This study was done using 2550 day-old, sex separated chicks (1275 males & 1275 females) to determine the most profitable grow-out period for broilers using different cost related performance indices and to ascertain the cost-effectiveness of sex-separate feeding of broilers. Feed intake and body weight were measured weekly for both sexes separately. Mortality, if any, during the rearing period was recorded. Average weight gain and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of birds were calculated on a weekly basis up to the age of 35 day. Records of the same parameters were taken daily from day 36 to 42. Cost-benefit analysis was done using FCR, Performance Efficiency Factor (PEF), Unit Profitability (UP) and Unit Return Index (URI). FCR increased with increasing age in both sexes from day 1 to 42. Males had a significantly higher (P<0.05) PEF from day 36 to 42 than females. Males had the highest PEF on day 36 and females on day 35. UP and URI values were significantly higher (P<0.05) in males than in females from day 35 to 42. Males had the highest UP and URI at day 40. In female broilers, UP and URI continued to increase up to day 42. The days giving highest values for PEF, UP and URI can be considered as optimum grow-out period for both males and females. Further studies are needed to determine the highest UP and URI values in females. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 23 (4): 338-346 (2012) DOI:<strong> </strong><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v23i4.4869">http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v23i4.4869</a>
Highlights
The genetic potential for growth of the modern broiler chickens is continuously improving by 50 g each year
There was no consistency in Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) with respect to age or sex of the birds during day 35 to day 42
FCR cannot be considered as a good index to make a decision on optimum grow-out period
Summary
The genetic potential for growth of the modern broiler chickens is continuously improving by 50 g each year. The marketing age of broilers decreases yearly by an average of 0.75 day (Gunasekar, 2007). As a result of this genetic improvement, today’s broiler is gaining an average of 50 g per day under conditions existing in developed countries, but it is estimated that the same broiler has the potential to double this performance (Creswell, 2007). The marketing age of broilers is decided by the buyback operator and it is in favor of the marketable dressed bird size. Dressed whole chicken represents more than 60% of the chicken sale in the Sri Lankan market and consumer preference is for weight range between 1 and 1.2 kg. The buy-back operators tend to catch the birds before 42 day.
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