Poultry Studies
2017, Vol 14, Num, 1 (Pages: 034-040)
The Effect of Feed Form and Green Grass Available on Performance of Broiler in Free Range System
2 Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Zootekni Bölümü-Isparta, Türkiye - This study was designed to investigate the effect of feed form (mesh or pellet) and vegetation cover (available or unavailable) on the growth performance, some organ weights and carcass characteristics of slow growing broiler chickens reared in the free range system in a 2x2 factorial design. A total of 800, day-old slow-growing broiler chickens (Hubbard Isa Red-JA 87) were randomly allotted into 4 dietary treatments, and 4 replicates of 50 birds. The effect of feed form was much more pronounced than forage intake in terms of body weight gain and feed conversion ratio with significant improvements in favour of pellet feed form. Throughout the experimental periods of 25 to 48 and 49 to 72, chicks fed on pellet feed gained more body weight which accompanied to lower feed conversion ratio compared to those receiving mesh feed. Pellet feed decreased feed consumption of birds from 25 to 48 days as compared to birds fed with mesh feed. However, this tendency disappeared thereafter and no significant difference was found between treatments throughout the experimental periods. Carcass yield of broiler chicks slaughtered at 72 days of age was not significantly affected by either feed form or green grass intake during the outdoor access. Keywords : Broiler, feed form, performance, free range system, carcass characteristics
