Effects of Different Phase-Feeding Programs with Different Feed Forms on Broiler Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Intestinal Morphology

Abstract

Background and Objective: Modern commercial broiler strains were developed to exhibit rapid growth. Therefore, phase-feeding programs with appropriate feed forms must be developed for these strains. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different phase-feeding programs with different feed forms on broiler performance. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized block design. Eight hundred eighty male and female broilers (Ross308) were fed crumble or pellet diets in different phase-feeding programs: starter, grower, or finisher. The four dietary treatments (10 replicates per treatment) were as follows: Treatment 1 (control): crumble starter (CS), pellet grower (PG), or pellet finisher (PF) at 1-17, 18-33 and 34-37 days of age; Treatment 2: CS, PG and PF at 1-14, 15-33 and 34-37 days of age; Treatment 3: CS, PG and PF at 1-10, 11-33 and 34-37 days of age; and Treatment 4: CS, PG and PF at 1-7, 8-33 and 34-37 days of age, respectively. Results: No significant differences in body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, or mortality were observed (p>0.05) among the dietary treatments during the starter and overall periods. In addition, the different phase-feeding programs with different feed forms did not affect (p>0.05) carcass traits at 37 days of age. Similar results were observed for intestinal morphologies among the treatments at 33 days of age. Conclusion: Under the study conditions, changing the feed form from crumble to pellets at 8 days of age did not detrimentally affect broiler performance, carcass traits or intestinal morphology.