INTRODUCTION
The genetic potential for growth of the modern broiler chickens is continuously improving
by 50 g each year. Therefore, the marketing age of broilers decreases yearly by an average of
0.75 day (Gunasekar, 2007). As a result of this genetic improvement, today’s broiler is
gaining an average of 50 g per day under conditions existing in developed countries, but it is
estimated that the same broiler has the potential to double this performance (Creswell, 2007).
The standard in broiler performance is achievement of 2.5 kg live weight with a feed
conversion ratio of 1.72 at 42 day of age in recent times (Creswell, 2005).
The Sri Lankan broiler industry today is in the hands of the private sector. Contract grower
or buy-back system is well established. The marketing age of broilers is decided by the buyback
operator and it is in favor of the marketable dressed bird size. Dressed whole chicken
represents more than 60% of the chicken sale in the Sri Lankan market and consumer
preference is for weight range between 1 and 1.2 kg. Therefore, the buy-back operators tend
to catch the birds before 42 day. Large companies with environmentally controlled-houses