Parameters studied
The experimental birds were randomly assigned to diets and fed ad-libitium.
During the experimental period (4-weeks), growth performance, body weight, live
weight, feed efficiency of the birds were evaluated as described by Siddiqui et al.
(2015). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated as the total feed consumption
divided by weight gain in each replication. Survivability percentage was calculated as
the total broilers survived divided by the number of starting birds multiplied by 100.
At the end of the experiment one broiler was slaughtered from each replication
to estimate dressing yield. Dressing yield is based on the relationship between the
dressed carcass weight and live bird weight after things like the skin and internal
organs have been removed. Dressing yield can be calculated by taking weight of the
carcass divided by weight of live bird.