GROWTH AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BROILERS FED DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL PREMIXES AT TWO DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES

Abstract

Three different brands of commercial premixes were fed to a total of 270 Brown Hypeco breeds of broilers at starter and finisher stages of development. At the starter phase the broiler chickens were divided into three experimental groups. Each group was fed one type of premix in duplicates and designated A, B and C. At the finisher phase, each of the 3 groups was divided into 3 experimental group to obtain a total of mine premix combinations. Data on growth rate, feed and energy intake were recorded from which weight gain and energy efficiency were calculated. The results showed that broilers fed premix B at both development stages had better body weight and gain (20.59g/day), comsumed more DM (56g/day), energy (168 kcal / day) with better energy efficiency than broilers in other groups. Energy efficiency of broilers fed premix A was better than that of C – fed broilers at finisher phase. Energy efficiency was improved when broilers were finished with premix B irrespective of the starter premix. The poor energy efficiency of broilers fed premix A or C was attributed to deficiency of thiamine and marginal deficiency of other energy related micro-nutrients leading to nutrients imbalance.