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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171439
Title: GROWTH RESPONSES AND MEAT YIELD OF BROILERS PROVIDED THREE AND FOUR FEED PROGRAMS FORMULATED TO MODERATE AND HIGH NUTRIENT DENSITY DURING A 56-DAY PRODUCTION PERIOD

Author
item Dozier Iii, William
item GORDON, R. - GOLD KIST, INC.
item KIDD, M - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV.
item Branton, Scott

Submitted to: Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2004
Publication Date: 1/15/2005
Citation: Dozier III, W.A., Gordon, R., Kidd, M., Branton, S.L. 2005. Growth responses and meat yield of broilers provided three and four feed programs formulated to moderate and high nutrient density during a 56-day production period. Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting. Abstract 96. p. 24.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Broiler chickens marketed to heavy weights are typically provided either a three- or four-phase feeding program. High nutrient density diets improve live performance and meat yield, but economical advantages are dependent upon live cost and net return based on meat yield. This study examined live performance and meat yield responses of broilers provided three- or four-phase feeding programs formulated to a high (H) or moderate (M) nutrient density during a 56-d production period (4 treatments and 8 replications/treatment). The periods consisted of 1 to 17, 18 to 35, and 36 to 56 d, or 1 to 17, 18 to 35, 36 to 46, and 47 to 56 d. Sixteen-hundred and sixty-four Ross x Ross 508 chicks (26 males and 26 females per pen; 0.08 m^{2}^/bird) were randomly distributed to 32 floor pens. Birds were provided H and M up to 35 d and from 36 to 56 d. However, half of the birds in this period (36 to 56 d) received H and M diets from 36 to 46 d and 47 to 56 d. In the three-phase feeding program, amino acid nutrient regimes for the 36 to 56-d period represented average amino acid levels of the four-phase feeding program from the 36 to 46-d and 47 and 56-d periods. Providing a three vs. four-phase feeding program did not influence broiler growth performance or breast fillet yield. From 1 to 35 d, BW gain and feed conversion were better (P 0.001) in birds fed H vs M diets. In the three-phase program, birds receiving H diets had higher cumulative BW (P=0.05) and BW gain (P=0.05), fillet weight (P=0.06), and tender weight (P=0.04) over birds fed M diets. Although providing a four-phase feeding program is advantageous based on diet cost, increasing nutrient density with a three-phase program provided benefits with performance and meat recovery. However, benefits of providing a three-phase program based on live performance and breast meat yield in comparison to the four-phase feeding were not realized in this experiment.