Effects of Breeder Age and Stocking Density on Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Some Stress Parameters of Broilers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of breeder age and stocking density on performance, carcass characteristics and some stress parameters (H-L ratio, serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, tonic immobility test (TI), antibody production, relative asymmetry (RA) and external appearances). This experiment was carried out with 705 one-day old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) obtained from three different ages of broiler breeder (32, 48 and 61 wks). Each age group was randomly divided into two stocking density groups (11.9 and 17.5 broilers per m 2 ) with 5 replications per group. The experimental period was 6 weeks. Broilers from 32 wk-old breeders had lower initial weight (p<0.001), body weight gain of the first 3 week of rearing (p<0.01), the percentage of abdominal fat (p<0.001) and serum cholesterol level (p<0.01); higher percentage of gizzard (p<0.01) and longer TI duration (p<0.001) than those from 48 and 61 wk-old breeders. Broilers reared at 17.5 b/m 2 had lower final BW, body weight gain, feed consumption, feather condition and foot health (p<0.001), higher percentage of heart, H-L ratio, serum glucose and cholesterol levels (p<0.001), and longer TI durations (p<0.001). There were no significant interactions in examined parameters except for feed to gain ratio between breeder age and stocking density.

Impact of stocking density and feeding regimen on broilers: performance, carcass traits and bone mineralisation

“…Imaeda (2000) reported that along with an increase in the number of broilers per square metre, especially in summer months elevated ammonia levels in the air caused death as a result of ammonia poisoning. It was found that broiler density per unit area did not impact mortality in this study and similar findings were confirmed in other studies (Thomas et al 2004;Onbasilar et al 2008). Limited feeding program using in the Pf groups reduced BW and WG during all production period compare to ad libitum fed birds.…”

“…Any deviation from optimal conditions may impair performance (Imaeda 2000;Dozier et al 2006). High stocking density can reduce performance because of several factors such as high environmental temperature in the microclimate of the bird, inadequate air exchange, increasing ammonia level and impeded access to feed and water (Thomas et al 2004;Muniz et al 2006;Onbasilar et al 2008). In addition, limited feeding programs reduce final body weight (BW) and daily weight gain, but they improve feed efficiency (Saleh et al 2005).…”

Effects of 16L : 8D photoperiod on growth performance, carcass characteristics,meat composition, and blood parameters of Pekin ducks

“…Therefore, the results of photoperiods for broilers should not be adapted for ducks. The changes in plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and creatine kinase activity that occur in response to acute or chronic stress have been reported by researchers for some poultry species (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). However, most research on lighting periods is focused on broiler management and rearing systems.…”

Effects of breeder age and early energy restriction on fattening performance, some meat quality traits and plasma leptin concentration of broilers

“…However Onbaşılar et al (27) showed that feed consumptions of broilers among different breeder ages were not statistically different. This difference between studies might be due to the using different breeder age groups.…”

“…Birds and management: A total of 504 male chicks were obtained from three different ages (27,38 and 60 weeks) of broiler breeders (ROSS 308). These flocks were housed under the same environmental and management conditions in the same farm.…”