2.6. Feeding management and growth performance measurements
Feed and water was provided ad libitum during the 13- week experimental period under continuous lighting. Average daily feed intake per bird was measured from 4 to 13 weeks of age by subtracting the weight of the feed refusals from that of the feed offered per day, and dividing the difference by the total number of birds in the pen. It is for this reason that performance parameters derived from feed intake data, such as feed conversion efficiency (FCE), could not be disaggregated by gender. The initial live- weight of the birds was measured at 4 weeks of age before the commencement of the experiment. Thereafter, average liveweight was measured weekly by weighing all the birds in each pen.