The Effect of Feeding Programmes on Broiler Performance and Production Efficiency

The goal of the paper was to investigate the effect of feeding programmes with different protein levels on broiler performance and production efficiency. The research was conducted on 600 chicks of Cobb-500 and Ross-308 provenience, previously divided into four groups (by feeding treatments). The groups (treatments) differed in the type of mixture given in the starter period. The feeding programmes were, as follows: T1 (control group) – 23% protein mixture (Day 1 to Day 21); T2 - 23% protein mixture (Day 1 to Day 14), and 20% protein mixture (Day 14 to Day 21); T3 – 23% protein mixture (Day 1 to Day 7), and 20% protein mixture (Day 7 to Day 21); T4 - 20% protein mixture (Day 1 to Day 21). The chicks were given 20% protein mixture from Day 21 to Day 35, and 18% protein mixture from Day 35 to Day 42. A standard technology for chicken fattening was carried out. Production efficiency was determined by observing the ratio of the total cost and total revenue, i.e. profit per chick. From the value of the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF), a summary indicator of production results, the authors came to a conclusion that T1 (control) group of the Cobb-500 and Ross-308 chicks had achieved higher EPEF than the experimental groups, whereby the values of T2 group were similar to the values of T1. The highest profit per chick was found for T1 group of Cobb-500 chicks and for T2 group of Ross-308 chicks. The research showed that a drastic protein reduction in the starter period had resulted in negative tendencies in the chicks of the both genotypes. From the aspect of development of more profitable feeding programmes, further research should therefore focus on T2 feeding programme

Correlations Between Incidence of Foot Pad Lesions and Body Weight of Broilers in Different Rearing Systems

The incidence of foot pad lesions of broilers of moderate growth was investigated in order to establish correlations with body weight. Broilers were reared until the age of 42 days in the floor system in the poultry house and then were divided into two groups. The first group continued growing in the poultry house until the age of 84 days and the second group was growing in the free range system until the same age. Individual measurements of body weight and evaluation of the incidence of foot pad lesions of broilers were carried out at the end of the experiment. In a correlation analysis of previously transformed data on the percentage of broilers with lesions and body weight within each weight group, data were obtained that showed an association between these traits depending on the rearing system. System of rearing had significant impact on the strength and direction of correlation between body weight and the incidence of foot pad lesions, in light of the determined correlation coefficient r = -0.95 at the significance level p=0.01 in the free range system, and r=0.56 (p>0.05) in chickens reared in the poultry house