THE EFFECT OF PHYSICAL FEED STRUCTURE ON THE COMMERCIAL BROILERS' PERFORMANCE
Lumturi Sena, Dallendyshe Peti, Nedeljka Nikolova
Department of Animal Production, Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania
lumturisena@yahoo.com
The effect of the physical structure of broilers' feed (pelleted vs. mash feed) on their performace parameters was studied in this trial. Two groups of 300 commercial broilers each (ROSS-308) were created. The control group was fed with mash feed, while the experimental gruop was fed crumbled feed during the first three weks (0‑3 weeks) and then pelleted feed until the end of the life (slaughtering). Both feeds were of identical composition and formulas, as well as same environmental and management conditions were provided for both groups. At the end of this trial, it was concluded that the broilers fed with pelleted feed had a 6‑7% higher body weight, a higher carcass weight and a higher meat yield (P<0.01). The same conclusion was drawn on the flock uniformity. The pelleted feed fed group demonstrated a more efficient feed conversion rate (1.81 kg feed/kg live weight). These results clearly demonstrate the advantages of using the crumbled/pelleted feed vs the mash one, since the production parameters of commercial broilers show it.
Keywords: broilers; crumbles; live weight; mash feed; pellets
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