@article{eprints840,
          volume = {13},
           month = {March},
         journal = {Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research},
           pages = {111--115},
            note = {Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria},
       publisher = {Scienceline Publication},
            year = {2023},
           title = {IMPACT OF PHASE-FEEDING PROGRAMS ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS IN NIGERIA},
          number = {2},
          author = {V.N. Ebegbulem and E.E. Archibong and T.N. Kperun and E.D. Izuki and M.A. Udayi},
        abstract = {Phase-feeding is the feeding of several diets for a relatively short period of time to specifically meet an animal{\^a}??s nutrient requirements. The study evaluated the effect of different phase feeding methods on growth and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 120-day-old chicks of the FIDAN strain were assigned to four dietary treatments of 30 birds each, 15 birds per replicate. Birds were fed at different phases: Phase 1 were fed broiler starter diet alone for 8 weeks; Phase 2 birds were fed starter diet from 0-4 weeks and 1st finisher diet from 5-8 weeks. Phase 3 birds were fed starter diet from 0-3 weeks, 1st finisher diet from 4-6 weeks and 2nd finisher diet from 6-8 weeks. Phase 4 birds were fed starter diet from 0-2 weeks, 1st finisher diet from 2-4 weeks, 2nd finisher diet from 4-6 weeks and 3rd finisher diet from 6-8 weeks of age. Result no significant differences (p\>0.05) between the groups in body weight gain (2.91-2.47 kg/bird) and feed conversion ratio (2.03-2.34). Total feed intake was highest in phase 1 (6.70 kg/bird) followed by phase 2 birds (6.41 kg). Dressed weight in Phase 1 was significantly (p\<0.05) higher than others, followed by Phase 2. Dressing percentage did not differ significantly (p\>0.05) between the groups. Feed cost between treatments was however significantly (p\<0.05) different, Phase 1 diet being costliest. Phase-feeding using phase 4 regime elicited reduced dietary cost without compromising optimal performance of the birds. {\^A}{\copyright} (2023). All Rights Reserved.},
        keywords = {Diet; Feed cost; Feed efficiency; Nutrition; Phase-feeding},
             url = {http://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/840/}
}