PERFORMANCE OF FREE-RANGE BROILER CHICKENS UNDER DIFFERENT RESTRICTED FEEDING REGIMENS

Abstract

Philipp J Vet Anim Sci 2013, 39 (1): 63-70

Ninety 5-week-old free-range broiler chickens were raised for six weeks to investigate the growth performance in response to different restricted feeding regimens. The birds were randomly distributed to three treatment groups: Treatment 1 - three times a day; Treatment 2 - fed twice a day; and Treatment 3 - fed once a day. Each treatment group was replicated
three times with ten birds per replication. Production parameters and dressing recovery were measured and subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. The average final weight and gain in weight of broilers in Treatment 1 were higher than the other two treatments (P<0.01). Feed consumption and feed efficiency were higher in Treatment 1 compared to the other treatments (P<0.05). The dressing percentage with and without
giblets did not differ significantly among the three treatment groups (P>0.05). No mortality was observed in all treatment groups. Birds fed thrice a day (Treatment 1) showed the highest income over feed cost, followed by Treatment 2. The results suggest that higher production and income in freerange broiler chickens can be achieved by feeding thrice a day, compared to
twice a day or once a day feeding.