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Stocking density is a key point in broiler welfare and cost of production. This experiment was carried out to investigate effect of three stocking density (12, 16 and 18 birds per m 2) and two levels of sulfur amino acids (S-AA) (100 and 120% requirement) on welfare indices (gait score, breast burn, hock burn, footpad dermatitis, feathering score and tonic immobility) of 390 day-old chickens. Most favorable gait score, footpad dermatitis, hock burn and breast burn obtained using 12 chickens per m 2 at 35 and 42d. Increasing levels of S-AA significantly decreased footpad dermatitis, hock burn and breast burn (P<0.05). Tonic immobility also increased remarkably with increasing of stocking density and 120% S-AA decreased tonic immobility times (P<0.05). Chickens had more feather coverage in 120% S-AA and in density of 12 chickens (P<0.05). In conclusion, lower stocking densities and higher level of sulfur amino acids improved welfare indices of broiler chicks.  Index Terms-broiler chickens, stocking density, sulfur amino acid, welfare

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The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different fat sources on growth performance of broiler chicks. Broiler chicks were raised from 0 to 50 days of age. Two hundred and forty broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to one of four experimental diets. These were four replicates for each of the following diets: A) Soybean oil, B) Free fatty acids, C) Grease oil, and D) Poultry oil. The results showed that the highest body weight and daily weight gain in 8-15 d, 16-25 d, 26-39 d, 40-44 d, and 45-50 were obtained in broilers fed on soybean oil diets (P<0.05). In 0-50 day oil the feed intake and daily weight gain of broilers fed on soybean oil was higher than other fat sources (P<0.05). According to findings of recent study, the growth performance of broiler fed on poultry oil and grease oil was poor compare to other fat sources. The growth performance of broilers fed on free fatty acids diet was slightly better than grease oil and poultry oil sources. The soybean meal oil and poultry fat oil supplementation significantly increased and decreased carcass weight percentage, respectively (P<0.05). Antibody titer against Newcastle diseases and Influenza viruses were not affected by different fat sources (P>0.05).

The study was performed to evaluate the effects of wheat-distillers dried grain with soluble (DDGS) levels on performance, carcass-characteristics, lymphoid organs and antibody titer against Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease. A total of 144 day old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly distributed between 3 treatments with 4 replicates and 12 chicks per each replication. The treatments included: control diet without wheat DDGS (A); 3, 4, 6 and 7% wheat-DDGS in starter, grower and finisher 1 and 2 phases respectively (B); 6, 8, 12 and 14% wheat-DDGS in starter, grower and finisher 1 and 2 phases respectively (C). Results showed that body weight at 50 d, daily weight gain at 25-39, 39-50 and 9-50 days significantly decreased C treatment (P˂0.05). The feed intake at 16-25 d significantly decreased by C treatment (P˂0.05). The feed conversion ratio at 25-39, 39-50 and 9-50 days in C treatment significantly decreased compare to control group (P˂0.05). The percentage of carcass, heart, gizzard and ileum significantly decreased by C treatment (P˂0.05). Also, jejunum weight percentage in B and C treatments compare to control group significantly increased (P˂0.05). As a conclusion, using incremental levels of wheat-DDGS (3, 4, 6 and 7%) in starter, grower, finisher 1 and 2 phases did not make significant change on broilers; performance. On the other hand, inclusion high levels of wheat-DDGS (12 and 14%) in finisher 1 and 2 phases decreased broilers' performance (P˂0.05).

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