COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SELF AND COMMERCIALLY FORMULATED FEED ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This study is aimed at comparing the effect of commercial and self-formulated feed on performance and gut development using Cobb 500 zarterch broilers. 500 day old broiler chicks were ordered from a commercial hatchery, management were intensively based on animal welfare standard. Chicks were assign to five treatment in a complete randomized design in order to evaluate to effects of the feed on performance and gut development. Performance data were record in excel and SPSS version 23 software was used to analyze the data. Feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio and average body weight gain were measure weekly. No significant differences was seen on all the parameters measure throughout the research trial. Birds fed diet A. (commercial feed) produced the heaviest weight (739g) and (2699g) both at the starter and finishers phase respectively compared to other treatments. Similarly, an improved feed conversion ratio and average body weight gain has been observed in birds fed diet A compared to other treatments. Based on the result from the current study, diet A perform better than other treatments. However, processing methods used in other treatment might have affected the nutrient composition and feed intake in that treatments. In order to effectively conclude, further research is needed on the different processing temperature and time.