Broiler Chickens Production
The energy level of the diet indirectly influences feed efficiency via its effect on feed intake. In many locations, classical feed efficiency (feed intake divided by bodyweight gain) is still considered an important management criterion. Certainly, to an integrated operation, classical efficiency assumes less importance, being replaced by such parameters as energy intake: weight gain or feed cost per kilogram of gain or feed cost per kilogram of deboned meat, or production cost per unit of floor space.
Mortality is less of an issue today than occurred just five or six years ago. At that time, it was often necessary to use lower-energy diets and/or reduced day length as a means of controlling growth so as to reduce the incidence of metabolic disorders. Reduced day length slowed growth sufficiently so that incidence of skeletal disorders and sudden death syndrome were reduced 50%, at least in male broilers. With emphasis on genetic selection against these disorders, mortality is now much lower, and in certain instances, it is again possible to grow broilers on longer day lengths, which equates to faster growth rate.
April 20 2008 12:56 pm | Article