The effects of different feeding programmes on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks
2004
Saylam, S.K. (Ondokuz Mayis Univ., Samsun (Turkey). Dept. of Animal Science)
The effects of different feeding programs on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks were investigated in the present study. Day old 1200 Ross PM3 commercial broiler chicks were divided into 5 experimental groups (1, 11, 111, IV and V). Group I birds were fed with starter diet (0-2 weeks) + finisher diet (3-6 weeks) while Group 11 birds were fed starter diet (0-3 weeks) + finisher diet (4-6 weeks). Group III birds were fed with starter diet (0-4 weeks) + finisher diet (5-6 weeks) while Group IV birds were fed with starter diet (0-5 weeks) + finisher diet during last week of growing period (6th week) and Group V birds with starter diet for 6 weeks. Starter diet contained 23% crude protein (CP) and 3050 Kcal ME kg-1 while finisher diet had 20% CP and 2950 Kcal ME kg-1. At the end of study (42-d), body weights, feed intakes, feed conversion ratios (feed : gain), and mortality rates of five experimental groups (I, 11,111, IV and V) were, respectively determined as 1883.48, 1958.25, 1919.58, 1887.08 and 1861.0 g (P less than 0.05); 3568.52, 3644.91, 3648.87, 3557.12 and 3325.10 g (P greater than 0.05); 1.93, 1.90, 1.94, 1.92 and 1.82 (P greater than 0.05); 6.24, 11.70, 9.59, 11.14 and 5.81% (P greater than 0.05). With respect to the relative abdominal fat weights (ranged 2.97-4.11 %), there was no significant difference between treatments. The present results show that Group lI had the best performance to dietary shift (3 weeks starter + 3 weeks finisher diet) in comparison to other groups subjected to various feeding programmes.
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