TY  - JOUR
AV  - public
SP  - 111
ID  - eprints840
N1  - Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
VL  - 13
KW  - Diet; Feed cost; Feed efficiency; Nutrition; Phase-feeding
UR  - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85163081604&doi=10.51227%2fojafr.2023.17&partnerID=40&md5=58e1a54694ad035899e2ebbaff10a207
PB  - Scienceline Publication
N2  - Phase-feeding is the feeding of several diets for a relatively short period of time to specifically meet an animalâ??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. © (2023). All Rights Reserved.
TI  - IMPACT OF PHASE-FEEDING PROGRAMS ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS IN NIGERIA
JF  - Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research
SN  - 22287701
EP  - 115
Y1  - 2023/03/30/
A1  - Ebegbulem, V.N.
A1  - Archibong, E.E.
A1  - Kperun, T.N.
A1  - Izuki, E.D.
A1  - Udayi, M.A.
IS  - 2
ER  -