Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed with Four Commercial Starter Diets

Anthony C. E; Omogiade C. L; Oladosu M. A; Adondua M. A; Ismaila E. O; Akinyanju J. B

Anthony C. E Department of Animal Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Omogiade C. L Department of Animal Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Oladosu M. A Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Adondua M. A Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
Ismaila E. O Department of Animal Production and Health, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Akinyanju J. B National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria

Keywords: broiler chickens, growth, performance, FCR

Abstract

Broiler chickens are an important source of protein and require high quality feed to reach optimal growth. This research was conducted to evaluate the performance of chickens fed with four different brands of commercial starter diets. The four different brands of commercial diets (Diets A, B, C, and D assigned to treatments T1, T2, T3, and T4) and 120 Ross 308 day-old broiler chicks were used for the study for a period of four weeks. The birds were randomly divided into four treatment groups (T1, T2, T3, and T4), with each treatment divided into 3 replicates of 10 birds, and assigned an experimental diet in a completely randomized design (CRD). The parameters measured were initial and final body weights, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality, feed cost, cost of feed consumed, and feed cost per Kg weight gain. The results indicated that T1 and T2 differed significantly (p<0.05) from T3 and T4 in average and final body weight. Feed conversion ratio (feed/gain) was 1.55, 1.58, 2.15, and 2.72 for T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. T2 was the cheapest in terms of feed cost/kg of meat produced, amounting to ₦657.06. T1 was the most expensive but had birds with the highest body weight gain. This study demonstrates the importance of high-quality feed and highlights the importance of nutrient variability on growth performance and economic returns when using commercial feeds.

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