Effect of Different Physical Forms of Feed on the Performance of Commercial Broilers

Day old (Cobb 400) broiler chicks (n=180) were used in the present study to determine the effect of mash, pellet and crumble form of feeds on the production performance of broilers. The birds were distributed randomly into 18 replicates of 10 chicks each with each of the three dietary treatment comprising of six replicates. First group (MG) was fed with mash feed; second group (PG) with pellet feed and the third group (CG) crumble feed. All the three forms of experimental diets (mash, pellet and crumble) were made isocaloric and isonitrogenous and fed ad libitum. During the six weeks experimentation growth performance and development of digestive and vital organs were studied. The total feed consumption per bird was significantly (P<0.05) higher in PG and CG groups when compared to MG. Similarly the live BW was higher (P<0.05) in PG and CG groups as compared to MG group. The BW gain of birds receiving CG feed were markedly higher (P<0.01) than those receiving MG feed. Similarly, the BW gain of birds fed PG feed were 12.30% (P<0.01) higher than the birds fed MG feed. Overall, the feed conversion was significantly higher (P<0.05) in PG and CG groups as compared to MG group. The various carcass parameters viz., live weight, de-blooded weight, de-feathered weight and dressed weight of birds fed with either PG or CG feed were higher (P<0.01) than that of birds fed with MG feed. The production cost was markedly lower (P<0.01) in MG group when compared to PG or CG group. It is concluded that despite higher production cost, crumble/pellet feed seems to be more advantageous due to higher live BW at marketing age when compared to mash feed fed birds.