Effect of Fasting and Early Feeding by Using Hydro-Gel 95 after Hatching on the Growth Parameters of Broiler Chicks

(Ammar H. Areaaer, Tariq S. Almrsomi and Ali J. Hammod)

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Abstract

Determining the optimal time of fasting and early feeding for broiler chicks is of great importance to improve subsequent productive performance. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of fasting and early feeding by using Hydro-Gel 95 after hatching on the growth parameters of broiler chicks. A completely randomized design (CRD) has been used for this experiment with a total of 240 one-day-old broilers (Ross 308) divided into four groups. The first group (T1) was a control group that was fed the starter diet after hatching with no supplementation of Hydro-Gel 95. The second group (T2) was fed Hydro-Gel 95 after hatching for two hours only and was then fed the starter diet. The third group (T3) was fed Hydro-Gel 95 after hatching for four hours and was then fed the starter diet. The fourth group (T4) was fed Hydro-Gel 95 after hatching for six hours and was then fed the starter diet. The results of the present experiment indicated that feeding chicks with Hydro-Gel 95 had a significant (P<0.05) improvement on the live body weight (LBW), cumulative weight gain, and cumulative feed consumption. The best production index (PI) and economic figure (EF) values at the age of 35 days were found in T4, while T2 and T3 indicated the highest total feed conversion ratios compared to T1 and T4. However, T3 recorded the lowest mortality rate during the total rearing period. The results suggest that feeding Hydro-Gel 95 to broiler chicks for six hours after hatching could improve their growth parameters.

KEYWORDS
Early nutrition, growth characters, hydro - gel 95, Ross 308

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