Livestock Studies 2002, Vol 42, Num, 1     (Pages: 035-044)

The effects of different restricted feeding programs on broiler performance characteristics

Neval ÖZDOĞAN 1

1 Hayvancılık Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü Müdürlüğü Lalahan/ANKARA - This study was held to investigate the effects of different restricted feeding programs on broiler performance characteristics as growth,livability and feed efficiency ratio.Living material was consisted of 1500 day- old broiler male chicks.Investigation was one control (G1) and two treatments as 16AL:8R feeding programs from 23 to 27 days of age (G2) and alternate feeding from 23 to 27 days of age (G3).There was two replicates of all groups in the hen house. There was statistically significant differences among the mean body weights of the groups for 4.,5. and 6. weeks of age (p<0.01, p<0.01 and p<0.05). Body weight figures of G1, G2 and G3 at sixth week were 2109.5 g., 2116.8 g. and 2032.3 g. respectively. Total feed consumption per bird for G1, G2 and G3 were 4123.13g., 4062.26g. and 3923.28 g. and feed efficiency figures were 1.95,1.91 and 1.93 respectively.Group differences were not statistically significant in respect of livability.Livability percentages were 94.02, 95.20, and 96.00 for G1, G2 and G3 respectively in six weeks of time.Broiler efficiency factors were 242.16, 251.20 and 240.68 for G1, G2 and G3 respectively.In G2,limiting the time of access to food did not cause severely depression on feed consumption and body weight gain during restriction period.Although feed efficiency was improved after restriction week, compensatory growth was not be adequate to arrive body weight of control group in G3 next 2 weeks. Keywords : Restricting feeding, alternate feeding, body weight, feed efficiency, livability