Serbest Gezinmeli Sistemde Yem Formu ve Ot Varlığının Etlik Piliçlerde Performans Üzerine Etkileri

This study was designed to investigate the effect of feed form (mesh or pellet) and vegetation cover (available or unavailable) on the growth performance, some organ weights and carcass characteristics of slow growing broiler chickens reared in the free range system in a 2x2 factorial design. A total of 800, day-old slow-growing broiler chickens (Hubbard Isa Red-JA 87) were randomly allotted into 4 dietary treatments, and 4 replicates of 50 birds. The effect of feed form was much more pronounced than forage intake in terms of body weight gain and feed conversion ratio with significant improvements in favour of pellet feed form. Throughout the experimental periods of 25 to 48 and 49 to 72, chicks fed on pellet feed gained more body weight which accompanied to lower feed conversion ratio compared to those receiving mesh feed. Pellet feed decreased feed consumption of birds from 25 to 48 days as compared to birds fed with mesh feed. However, this tendency disappeared thereafter and no significant difference was found between treatments throughout the experimental periods. Carcass yield of broiler chicks slaughtered at 72 days of age was not significantly affected by either feed form or green grass intake during the outdoor access

The Effects of Natural Zeolit Supplemented into Litter on Growth Performance and Welfare of Broilers

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of clinoptiolite (a natural zeolite) in two addition level (3 kg or 6 kg) and two particle size (ranging from 0.1 to 0.2 mm or 0.5 to 1.0 mm) as litter supplement on the growth performance, litter dry matter, ammonium release and foot pad lesion score of broilers. One thousand and eight hundred, one-day-old chickens were divided into five treatment groups with six replicates of 60 chicks. Bird density was 15/ m2 in floor pens where pine shavings was used as litter at the level of 5 kg/m2. Considering the main effect, neither addition level nor the particle size of zeolite supplemented to litter influenced the performance indices and mortality of broilers during the starter (1 to 28 days) and overall growth period (28 to 42 days). Supplementing zeolite to litter at the level of 6 kg/m2 induced a significant increase in litter dry matter (%) at days 28 and 35 when compared to treatment with 3 and 0 kg/m2. At 42 days of age, food pad lesion score of birds reared on litter supplemented with large sized zeolite particles was lower than those grown on litter with added little sized zeolite. In conclusion, addition level and particle size of natural zeolite supplemented to litter had no significant effect on broiler performance and ammonia release from litter