Effects of Skip-a-Day Feed restriction on Production and Carcass Yield Characteristics of Koekoek Chicks
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Date
2012-06
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Addis Ababauniversity
Abstract
The effect of feed restriction on the production performances and carcass yield characteristics of Koekoek chicks was studied with the objective of determining to age, on body weight and egg weight at the onset of lay, economic advantages and the effect of feed restriction on carcass yield characteristics. The experimental study was carried out at DZARC. Two hundred fourth day-old chicks were randomly distributed in to 12 pens each with 20 chick’s representing 4 feeding treatments, representing of T1 (unrestricted), T2 (restricted at 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25 and 28 days), T3 (restricted at 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 50, 53 and56 days) and T4 (restricted at 63, 66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81 and 84 days) of age. The experiment lasted for a period of (23) weeks. Feed intake and body weight changes were monitored. At the end of the experimental period, six pullets from each treatment were randomly selected and slaughtered to evaluate carcass yield, weights and lengths of different parts of gastrointestinal tracts and reproductive organs. The daily and total feed consumption, total DM intake and daily CP intake of chicks had a significant difference. Feed restriction had a significant effect on body weight and body weight gain at the end of feeding starter feed. Age at onset of first laying, shell thickness, albumen height, yolk color and haugh unit score did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between feed restricted and unrestricted groups. The yolk diameter had significant difference between the treatment groups. The effect of feed restriction on the slaughter weight and dressing weight were not significant (p>0.05). The eviscerated carcass yield weight with abdominal fat and the abdominal fat weight and percentage showed significant (P<0.05) difference among treatments. Among the parameters from the length and weight of the GIT, only duodenum empty weight (p<0.05) showed, significant differences. Neither the weight nor the percentage of edible offals had a significance association with feed restriction. The weight of white follicles; and the absolute weight and relative weight of infundibulum, magnum and isthmus were significantly (p<0.05) different between treatments. Feed restriction is significantly (p<0.05) associated with the production costs among treatment. In conclusion, feed restriction at a later stage (T4) of rearing period decreases the amount of feed by consumed without affecting the AOEL, body weight at the AOEL, egg weight and carcass weight. Therefore, commercial egg producers are advised to restrict chicks at the age of latter stage (T4)
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Koekoek chicks