HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Saleh, E. A. Articles by Waldroup, P. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Saleh, E. A. Articles by Waldroup, P. W.

Changing Time of Feeding Starter, Grower, and Finisher Diets for Broilers 3. Birds Grown to 3.3 kg

Poultry Science Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; Phone: (501) 575-2065; FAX: (501) 575-3474

Correspondence: P. W. Waldroup

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects on live performance and carcass characteristics for male broilers of a commercial high-yield strain subjected to various times of feeding starter, grower, and finisher diets. The birds were grown to 56 days to achieve a target weight of 3.3 kg. Diets were formulated to meet nutrient levels typical of current industry practice.

The optimum time of feeding starter diet for birds grown to a target weight of approximately 3.3 kg appears to be no more than 7 days. However, inclusion of finisher diet in the feeding program earlier than 42 days, regardless of the time of feeding starter diet, resulted in a reduction in body weight, a deterioration in feed conversion and calorie utilization, an increase in abdominal fat, and a reduction in breast meat yield. Because of the typical cost differences among starter, grower, and finisher feeds, changing diets at earlier ages may have considerable economic impact.

Key Words: Broilers • carcass composition • feeding systems • starter diets

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. A. Dozier III, R. W. Gordon, J. Anderson, M. T. Kidd, A. Corzo, and S. L. Branton Growth, Meat Yield, and Economic Responses of Broilers Provided Three- and Four-Phase Schedules Formulated to Moderate and High Nutrient Density During a Fifty-Six-Day Production Period J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2006; 15(2): 312 - 325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]