Effects Of Skip-A-Day Feeding Programme On The Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Broiler Chickens In A Humid Tropical Environment

Abstract

The effect of Skip-a-day feeding programme for broilers chicken, as a form of feed restriction, was investigated. Two experiments were conducted from 3-6 weeks of age (Experiment 1) and 6-9 weeks of age (Experiment 2). There were 5 treatments with 2 replicates in each of the two experiments. In each experiment, treatment 1 was fed ad libitum and served as the control. Treatment 2 was fed every other day while in treatment 3 feed was skipped after every two days. In treatments 4 and 5 feed was skipped after every 3 and 4 days respectively.
Results showed that in both experiments, although efficiency of feed utilization were not significantly affected, live weight, weight gain and feed consumption were significantly affected (p<0.05). Dressing percentage, carcass parts and organ weights were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by the treatments.

Key words: Skip-a-day feeding, body weights, carcass parts, organ weights.


(Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences: 2002 8(2): 181-186)