Evaluation of performances of broilers raised under different floor space geometries in south western Nigeria

Abstract

The study focused on the performances of broilers raised under different floor space areas and flock sizes in deep litter housing. Pens’ floor areas (F₁S = 2400 cm², F₂S = 2600 cm², F₃S = 2800 cm² and F₄S = 3000 cm²) were used with each housing 4 birds and also 4 levels of flock sizes at constant floor space area variations (S₁D = 2800 cm², S₂D = 4200 cm², S₃D = 5600 cm² and S₄D = 7000 cm²) housing n = 4, 6, 8 and 10 birds, respectively. Among the parameters measured were weight gains by birds, litter weights- its dry matter content and pH values and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Proximate analysis of broiler meat was done for meat quality evaluation. Floor space (FS) had significant effect (P ≤ 0.05) on the birds’ weights gain and weights’ uniformities and growth; FS also had significant effect (P ≤ 0.05) on the litter weights, dry matter content and pH values of the litter. Also, statistical differences were observed for all the proximate values in F₃S and S₁D and in F₁S cells. The 2800 cm² of 4 birds at 700 cm²/bird floor geometry gave highest weight gain (199.3 g ± 4.28), carcass dressed weight (1450.0 g ± 5.66) and FCR (7.88 ± 0.13) at both floor space area/floor geometry (FS) and flock size/stocking density (SD) variations. The 2800 cm² of 4 birds at 700 cm²/bird floor space was considered best in the research.

Key words: carcass dressed weights, dry matter, feed conversion ratio floor geometry
flock size