ABSTRACT
The effect of feeding pellets, mash and mix of pellets and mash on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Hubbard broiler chicks was studied. Ninety one day-old chicks were used in a completely randomized design with three forms of diets. Each dietary treatment consists of 3 replicates with 10 chicks in each replicate. Live body weight (LW), weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly from the first week to sixth week. Carcass components were recorded at the end of trial (day 42). Dressing out percentage on hot and cold base, relative and absolute weight of liver, heart, gizzard and abdominal fat and length of small intestine were recorded. All performance parameters were not affected (p>0.05) by the inclusion of different forms of diets. The results indicate that mash feed had significantly (p0.05) effect on other carcass characteristics.
It is concluded that similarities in growth response between mash, mixed and pellet-fed birds may be attributed to the pellet quality and greater lysine requirements of the pellet-fed birds.
Key words: Broiler chicks, growth performance, carcass characteristics, Mash, Pellets.