Growth performance and carcass yield of broilers as affected by stocking density and enzymatic growth promoters

Abstract

Present experiment was performed to study the effects of stocking densities and feed additive on broiler performance carcass traits. Total of 144 unsexed one-day old Hubbard broilers were reared at three Stocking Densities (SD), feeding on diet with or without enzymatic growth promoters (A) as growth promoter in an environmental controlled (windowless house). Birds were kept until 42 days old with 7, 8 and 9 birds in a cage of 97×50×45 cm. Birds were distributed into sex treatments in each three replicates. Mortality and carcass yield was calculated for each treatment. The highest (p<0.05) Body Weight (BW) and Body Weight Gain (BWG) were recorded in low densities of birds fed on diet supplemented with enzymes (SD7+A and SD8+A) compared to other treatments during the experimental period. Also, Feed Intake (FI) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were improved (p<0.05) in SD7+A and SD8+A compared to other treatments. Relatively carcass yields were increased (p<0.05) in low densities with enzyme supplementation without any adverse effect on digestive organs. © 2011 Academic Journals Inc.