TITLE:
Effect of Feed Restriction on Broiler Chicks Prior to Slaughter
AUTHORS:
Nadir Abdelraheem, Magdi Mohammed Mohammed Ahmed, Fujiang Hou
KEYWORDS:
Feed Restriction, Prior to Slaughter, Broiler, Carcass Weight
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.9 No.1,
December
20,
2018
ABSTRACT: The present study was conducted to study the effect
of feed restriction prior to slaughter on carcass weight of male broiler chicks
from 32 to 40 days of age. A total number of 180 (Pure line) male broiler
chicks were taken randomly, labeled and divided into six groups. At 32 days of
age, the experimental groups were put under the experimental feeding program.
Group A fed ad libitum (control) while group B and C fed 120, 60
gm/bird/day for eight days, respectively. Group D and E fed 120, 60 gm/bird/day
for four days respectively, followed by zero feeding for an extra 4 days. Group
F deprived of food during the whole experimental period (8 days). The
experimental diet was formulated to be approximately iso caloric-iso
nitrogenous containing sorghum, groundnut cake, broiler concentrate, calcium,
salt, lysine, methionine, and premix. The parameters taken were live body
weight, feed intake, mortality, carcass, and non-carcass values. The effect of
feed restriction program on male broiler chicks was not significant during the
period from 32 to 34 days of age for parameters final live body weight, carcass
weight, and dressing percentage, but net weight (gain or loss) was affected by
feed restriction program and showed a significant difference (P 0.05)
between experimental groups for dressing percentage during period from32 to 36
days of age. At the period from 32 to 38 days and the period from 32 to 40 days
of age, all parameters were significantly affected by feed restriction program.
It was concluded that carcass weight of broiler chickens can be controlled
using different options of feed restriction programs according to the need of
the market and the producer situation with special consideration to the
economic return.