Philippine E-Journals

Broiler Performance under Physical Feed Restriction and Diet Dilution Feeding Regime on the 3rd Week of Age

Clarita T. Dagaas | Jay Invinsor DL Bermas

Discipline: Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science

 

Abstract:

Ninety-six straight run day-old Arbor Acre chicks were raised for 42 days to evaluate their growth performance, dressing recovery and behavior before, during and after subjecting them to 40% level of feed restriction and feed dilution feeding system on the third week of age. The birds were distributed to three treatment groups: treatment 1, control group, ad libitum feeding; treatment 2, 40% level feed restriction on 3rd week; and treatment 3, diluted diet on the 3rd week. Production parameters and dressing recovery were measured and analyzed using analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. Comparison of treatment means was done using Duncan’s multiple range test. The average final body weights and gain in weights of the birds in all treatments did not differ significantly (P>0.05), which implies that restricted and diluted fed broilers were able to recover at harvest time relative to the control birds. Restricted fed birds had significantly lesser (P<0.05) average total feed consumption and showed better overall feed efficiency compared to the ad libitum and diluted fed birds. Feed restriction and feed dilution did not have significant effect (P>0.05) on the livability of the birds. Excitability and competition among the birds were observed during the implementation of quantitative feed restriction. Growth of broiler chickens may be altered by implementing such feeding programs leading to cheaper cost of production and may be recommended based on the conditions under which the study was performed.