Low cost feed formulation for semi-intensive poultry farming during brooding period

The study was conducted at different locations of Angul district by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Angul, Odisha. In the trial four groups were made and total 10 replications were done for each group and each group contained 25 birds under each replication. Under treatment group T₁ birds were, supplemented with broken rice and T₂ birds were supplemented with crumbled broiler starter feed (market feed). T₃ feed contained ground maize 35%, groundnut cake 23%, fish meal 10%, wheat bran 15%, broken rice 15%, mineral mixture and salt 2%. T₄ feed contained ground maize 30%, groundnut cake 23%, fish meal 10%, wheat bran 15%, broken rice 20%, mineral mixture and salt 2%. It was observed that the treatment T₁ supplemented with broken rice showed lowest average weight gain of 553.12g at 60 d, whereas, T₄ supplemented with formulated feed material showed highest weight gain 770.12g in 60 d. There was minimal mortality in T₂. It was observed that the CP content of T₂ (Broiler starter) was more or less similar to that of T₃ and T₄. Hence, the formulated feeds can be a substitute for commercial starter feed.