FEED UTILIZATION BY BROILER CHICKENS FED THREE COMMERCIAL MICRONUTRIENT PREMIXES AT TWO PHYSIOLOGICAL STAGES OF GROWTH

Abstract

Three commercial premix types were fed in and duplicated to six groups of 45 broilers each at the starter pbase (0-5 weeks). At the finisher phase (5-9 weeks) each treatment group of the vital roles in starter was further divided into three groups. Nine premix combinations were used at the finisher pbase. Performance of the birds was monitored. At the starter phase, birds fed premix Z diet had a mean body weight blood (629.90gm) that was higher (P<0.05) than fed premix A diet (518.87 gm) which was also the maintenance of osmotic relations and acid higher than those fed premix U diet (414.59gm). The mean daily weight gain followed the same  trend with 16.81gm, 14.04gm, or 10.58 gm for birds fed diets that contained premixes Z A or U respectively. Birds fed a diet that contained premix Z consumed 48.80 gm daily which was  more than those for birds fed premix U in their diet (37.85gm). The feed to gain ratio was not significantly affected (P>0.05) by the premix  type fed at this phase. Poor growth rate caused by premixes with marked differences in their by premix fed at the starter phase was not completely overcome due to the premix type fed at the finisher phase varied (P<0.05) with the type of premix fed. No difference (P>0.05) was observed among the  premix types for the metabolic trials at the starter phase.