Protein is a major component of broilers diets. There are contradictory reports in literature regarding optimum levels of protein in broiler chicken diets to obtain reasonable performance. Initially some efforts were made to establish a minimum level of protein to get optimum performance but those moves resulted in poor performance in terms of weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The present study was conducted at Poultry Research and Training Centre (PRTC), Ravi Campus Pattoki, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. The duration of the proposed study was 35 days. In total, 360 day old commercial broiler chicks were assigned to 12 groups in 3×4 factorial arrangement under Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Treatments consisted of 3 sex rearing systems (male, female and mix) and 4 feeding regimes (HD, conventional, NRC and Soya Corn). Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 10 birds in each. Data regarding growth performance incuding feed intake, body weight and FCR were recorded on weekly basis. At the end of trial, from each replicate two birds were randomly picked up and slaughtered to collect the data for carcass characteristics. After slaughtering, 5 ml blood was collected in test tubes from Jugular vein of each bird. Serum samples were extracted and stored at -20C for measuring antibody titers against and serum chemistry. The collected data were analyzed through ANOVA technique under factorial arrangement using PROG GLM. Means were compared through Duncan’s Multiple Range (DMR) test with the help of SAS 9.1.
Broilers reared on different feeding regimes showed significantly enhanced body weight, better FCR, PEF, PS, PI and better ND titer in high density (HD) diet fed birds, whereas feed intake was found to be higher in those birds which were fed at conventional diet. On the other hand, glucose and cholesterol showed non-significant results. While carcass characteristics showed CHAPTER 6 SUMMARY
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higher abdominal fat, heart weight and thymus weight in soya corn based diet whereas pancreas, breast and thigh meat yield weights were found to be higher in HD diet. Different sexes indicated higher body weight, FCR, PEF,PS, PI, dressed weight, heart weight, keel length and shank length in males whereas abdominal fat was observed to be higher in females. Males showed better economics rather than straight run and female birds. Among different feeding regimes HD feed exhibited better economical appraisal as compared to Soya corn, NRC and conventional diet.
Conclusion:
Based on the findings of the present study it may be concluded that
1. Rearing of broilers on high density (HD) feed resulted into enhanced body weight and better FCR. Whereas feed intake was found to be higher in birds fed conventional diet. In sexes, male broilers fed high density (HD) feed showed better body weight, improved FCR, PEF, PS and PI values.
2. In carcass characteristics, birds fed high density diet showed enhanced weight of pancreas, breast meat yield, keel length and thigh yield while abdominal fat, heart weight and thymus weight were higher in soya corn diet fed birds. In different sexes, rearing of males separately indicated increased dressed weight, heart weight, keel length and shank length whereas abdominal fat was observed to be higher in females.
3. Birds reared on HD diet exhibited elevated antibody titer as compared to NRC, Conventional and soya corn based diet however with respect to cholesterol level, different sexes and feeding regimes separately could not show their response.
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4. Among different feeding regimes, high density (HD) diet remained more economical than Soya corn, NRC and conventional diet. In sexes, rearing of males separately remained more economical than rearing of females alone as well as combined sex rearing.
Recommendations for the farmers
Based on the current findings, here are some recommendations for the farmers
1. HD feed can improve the growth performance and carcass characteristics.
2. HD feed is cost effective so by using the high density feed better results can be obtained.
Suggestions for the futures researchers
 Same treatments can be applied in sexed broilers to evaluate meat quality and organoleptic.
 Future researchers can also apply different feed regimes in different broilers strains.