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EFFECT OF FEED FREQUENCIES AND DURATIONS ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS

Research Authors
Farghly, M.F.A. AND H.H.M. Hassanien
Research Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feed frequencies and durations on growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters and economical efficiency of broilers chicks. Two hundred and ten, one day old Ross chicks were randomly distributed into seven groups (each consisted of 3 replicates of 10 birds each) as follows: ad libitum (Control, C), one meal/day for 6 and 12 hours each (Treatments 1, 2), respectively, two meals/day for 3 and 6 hours each (Treatments 3, 4), respectively and three meals/day for 2 and 4 hours each (Treatments 5, 6), respectively. The obtained results indicated that feed frequencies with different durations significantly (P≤0.05) affected body weight and feed consumption. However, no significant (P≤0.05) differences in feed conversion ratios were found among all groups. Also, feed frequencies and durations had insignificant (P>0.05) effect on most carcass traits and blood parameters except liver, abdominal fat, juiciness and blood protein percentages. From the previous results and economical evaluation, it could be recommended that feeding broilers chicks over once a day (three times/day) in a 4 hours duration improved growth performance and reduced carcass fat without any adverse physiological effects at marketing age.

Research Department
Research Journal
Egypt. Poult. Sci.
Research Member
Research Publisher
Egyptian Poultry Science Association
Research Rank
1
Research Vol
(32) (II)
Research Website
http://www.epsaegypt.com/
Research Year
2012
Research Pages
273-288