GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF STARTER BROILER CHICKENS FED DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL DIETS

Abstract

One of the key challenges faced by poultry industry, especially in Nigeria, is the proliferation of substandard commercial feeds. A feeding trial was conducted to determine the growth performance of starter broiler chickens fed different brands of commercial broiler starter diets in Bauchi Metropolis. Two hundred and forty (240) day-old chicks were randomly allotted to four commercial grade broiler diets in replicates of four containing 15 birds each in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum and the study lasted for 4 weeks. Results showed that apart from daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio, other parameters were not significantly (P<0.05) affected. Daily weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher on diets 4 (47.41g) and 3 (46.94g) which did not differ, than those on diets 2 (40.68g) and 1 (40.54g) which were similar. feed conversion ratio was significant (P<0.05) better on diets 3 (1.58) and 4 (1.48), which were same, and poorer on diets 1 (1.83) and 2 (1.71) which did not differ.Final weight however, did not differ among diets and was in the range of 1060.00 – 1198.33g. It was therefore concluded that diets 3 and 4 which gave higher daily weigh gains and better feed conversion ratio are superior in terms of quality than diets 1 and 2 and thus recommended for starter broiler feeding.