Nigerian J. Anim. Sci.

2019, 21 (2): 106-111

Growth response and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens on

different daily feeding frequency
Odukoya, S. O., Orimogunje, A. A., Yahaya, M. O. and Saka, A. A.
Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan.
[email protected]

Target Audience: Animal Scientists, Livestock farmers and Agricultural Extentionists

Abstract
A total of 99 day old broiler chicks were used in a 56 day trial to determine the growth response and
carcass characteristics of broiler Chickens on different daily feeding frequency. They were randomly
allotted into three treatment groups (T1, T2, T3). T1 were fed once a day, T2 were fed twice a day while T3
were fed thrice a day. All treatments were fed with the same quality and quantity of feed. Data obtained
include; weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and carcass traits of the broiler chickens. Results
obtained revealed no significant (P>0.05) difference among the growth parameters observed except the
final weight. Birds fed twice a day recorded the highest final weight (2295.50g) followed by those fed once
a day (2236.30g) and thrice a day (2230.30g) respectively. No significant differences (P>0.05) among
dietary treatments were observed on carcass parameters measured except the live weight, drumstick and
heart. The live weight of the experimental animals ranged significantly from birds fed once a day
(2366.67g) to those fed thrice a day (2783.30g). Birds fed twice a day and thrice a day had similar
(P>0.05) drumstick values but significantly (P<0.05) higher than those fed once. Animals fed twice a day
(0.58) recorded the highest heart weight followed by those fed once a day (0.45) and thrice a day (0.48)
that was statistically similar. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that birds fed frequently at
least twice a day performed better compared with birds fed once a day.

Keywords: Feeding frequency, Performance, Carcass, Broiler Chicken.

Description of problems that poultry production should be increased

Livestock production industry has been more rapidly than the production of other
sustained for many years with the aim of livestock because birds have ability to convert
establishing it, but this is yet to be fully their feed efficiently within a short period of
achieved in most developing countries like time. Boiler have been considered efficient
Nigeria (1). The primary aim or purpose of converter of poultry ration to edible meat
livestock production is to produce inexpensive attaining live weight of about 1.5-3.0kg
source of protein for human consumption (2). between 6-10weeks of age depending on the
However, the success of the livestock industry feed quality and quantity, health and other
depends on the amount of nutritional management practice (4). The meat is rich in
information available and appropriate essential and non-essential amino acid required
management technique relevant to poultry for growth. Broiler has a good carcass yield or
farmers such as feeding and management. dressing percentage and the efficiency of
Apart from diet composition, feeding rate is an utilization is very high compared to other
important step in feed strategy to determine the livestock. Animal protein is very important in
optimal frequency of feeding. (3) suggested human nutrition because it contains essential

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amino acid required by man and likewise the (7am, 12noon and 5pm). The birds in each
required vitamins and minerals (5) Animal treatment were fed same quantity and quality
protein source like mutton is very expensive, of feed. Daily management of the experimental
whereas beef has a limited use because of its birds include weighing of the experimental
high cholesterol content, broiler meat may feed of each replicate, cleaning of the feeding
therefore help in bridging the gap between and water trough, inspection of the birds’
supply and demand of animal protein because excreta. Weekly management includes
of its high biological value, quickest and weighing of experimental birds of each
economical source of human food (6). Various replicates and occasional management includes
methods of feed restriction such as intermittent vaccination and medication of the birds.
feeding, frequency of feeding, skip a day
feeding have one or more effect on Experimental Design
performance of broiler production. This study A total of ninety-nine (99) birds used for
therefore evaluated the effects of feeding this study were randomly allotted into three (3)
frequency on the growth performance and dietary treatments of three replicates
carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. containing eleven (11) birds in a completely
randomized design.
Materials and Methods
Experimental Site Chemical analysis
The experiment was carried out at An aliquot of daily feed samples
Teaching and Research farm of the Federal (concentrates) was collected, oven-dried,
College of Animal Health and Production ground and sieved through a 2-mm sieve and
Technology, Moor plantation, Ibadan. The area stored in airtight container for proximate (8).
lies within the rain forest ecological zone, and Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE) was determined
falls within longitude and latitude 70 27l and 30 by subtracting sum of (%Moisture + % Crude
25l respectively at altitude 200- 300m above Protein + % Ether extract + % Crude fibre + %
the sea level with an annual rainfall of about Ash) from 100.
1250mm. The temperature and relative
humidity ranges from 30 – 350C and 76 – 84%
respectively. The experiment lasted for a Parameters Measured
period of 8 weeks. Data were collected based on the following
parameters:
Experimental Animals and their Management.  Feed consumption: This was obtained
A total of ninety-nine (99) birds were used by weighing the quantity of feed
for this experiment they were distributed served in gram and the next day, the
randomly into three (3) dietary treatments of leftover was weighed in order to know
three replicates containing eleven (11) birds. the quantity of feed consumed.
The birds were weighed at the commencement  Body weight gain: Birds were weighed
of the experiment to determine their initial every week before feed and water
weight and subsequently weighed on weekly were given All birds in each replicate
basis until the experiment was completed. In were weighed and average weight for
treatment one (T1), the birds were fed once each replicate was obtained by
daily (7am), birds in treatment two (T2), were dividing the total weight of the birds
fed twice daily (7a.m and 12noon) while birds by the number of birds in each
in treatment three (T3) were fed thrice daily replicate.

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Feed Conversion Ratio: This was computed by stunned, bled and processed to obtain the dress
dividing the daily feed intake by the daily weight, eviscerated weight while the organs
weight gain. and cut-up parts are expressed as percentages
of the live weight.

Statistical Analysis
Carcass Evaluation Data collected were subjected to one-way
At the end of the feeding trial, two (2) analysis of variance (9)and the means were
birds were randomly selected from each separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test
replicate at the end of the experiment for (10) using the statistical package (9).
carcass evaluation. The birds were weighed,

Table 1: Gross composition (%) of Broiler Starter and Finisher Ration

Ingredients Starter (%) Finisher (%)
Maize 50.30 50.72
Soya bean 40.00 33.20
Bone meal 4.00 5.00
Osyter shell 2.00 2.50
Fish (72% CP) 3.00 3.00
*Premix 0.25 0.25
Salt (NaCl) 0.25 0.25
Methionine 0.10 0.15
Lysine 0.10 0.15
Total 100.00 100.00
Crude protein (%) 22.95 20.05
Crude fibre (%) 5.32 6.41
Metabolized Energy 2,782 2,910
* Starter premix contained vit A,12000 i.u; vit D3, 2000 i.u; vit E, 30mg; vit K, 2.5mg; vit B2, 6mg; Nicotinic acid,
30mg cal.D-pentothenate, 15mg; vit B6, 3mg; vit B12, 0.02mg; manganese, 60mg; Iron, 80mg; Zinc, 40mg; copper,8mg;
iodine,0.80mg; cobalt, 0.40mg and selenium 0.20mg.
*Finisher premix contained vit. A, 10000 i.u; vit.D3, 1500 i.u; vit.E, 20mg; vit. K, 2.00mg; vit. B2, 6.00mg; Nicotinic
acid, 20mg; cal. D- pantothenate, 10mg; vit.B6, 2.5mg; vit B12, 0.01mg; manganese, 60mg; iron, 80mg; zinc, 40mg;
copper, 8.00mg; iodine, 0.8mg; cobalt, 0.40mg and selenium, 0.20mg

Results and Discussion for most of the parameters measured as can be

Effects of daily frequency of feeding on observed in the final weight where birds in T2
the growth response of broiler chickens are (twice/day) had higher value compared to T1
presented in Table 2. There were no (once/day). This result was in agreement with
significant (P>0.05) difference in all the the findings of (7) who reported that broiler
parameters observed except in final weight chicken fed twice daily performed better than
gain. The final weight gain values varied those fed once daily. Similarly, birds fed twice
significantly (P<0.05) across the dietary daily (T2) had a higher value of the final
treatments in which birds in T2 (2295.50g) weight. The same trend was followed by the
recorded the highest value followed by those in weight gain and feed conversion ratio which
T1 (2236.30g) and T3 (2230.30g) respectively. shows the best value in T2 (2.42). The results
Birds fed more frequently have higher values further revealed that the parameters considered

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such as initial weight, weight gain, daily recorded in T2 (0.00%). This was in agreement
weight gain, daily feed intake, protein with the report of (11) who reported the more
efficiency and percentage mortality were not frequent poultry birds are fed a day, the more
different across the treatment. However, the the rate of converting the feed to flesh. The
final weight was significantly different across lowest mortality recorded in T2 compared to
the dietary treatment having its highest value other treatments could not be explained as all
of 2295.50g in T2 that was fed twice daily and birds were subjected to the same experimental
the lowest value of (2230.30g) in T3 which was condition.
fed thrice daily. The lowest mortality was

Table 2: Effects of daily frequency of feeding on the growth response of broiler chickens
Parameters T1 T2 T3 SEM
Initial weight (g) 44.23 45.37 46.40 0.54
Final weight (g) 2236.30ab 2295.50a 2230.30b 13.7
Weight gain (g) 2219.10 2183.40 2183.90 23.14
Daily weight gain (g/d) 39.63 38.99 39.00 0.41
Daily feed intake (g/d) 101.87 93.97 100.20 2.63
Feed conversion ratio 2.57 2.42 2.57 0.06
Daily protein intake (g/d) 21.90 20.23 21.53 0.56
Protein efficiency 1.81 1.95 1.81 0.06
Mortality (%) 6.06 0.00 6.05 0.35
a, b ,c
means with same superscript along the row are not significantly different (P>0.05)
T1: Birds fed once daily at 7am,
T2: Birds fed twice daily at 7am and 12noon.
T3: Birds fed thrice daily at 7am, 12noon and 5pm.

Presented in Table 3 is the effect of daily significant of most of the parameters measured
feeding frequency on the carcass was corroborated by the report (12) that
characteristics of broiler chickens. The results nutrition, age, sex, environment, stage of
revealed that there were no significant development and efficiency of feeding were
(P>0.05) differences across the treatments for identified as major determinants for carcass
dressed weight, eviscerated weight, head, quality. The highest values of live and dressed
shank, neck and gizzard. Live weight had the weight observed in T3 and the least observed in
highest value (2783.30g) in T3 while the least T1 supported the findings that birds fed more
value (2366.67g) was obtained in T1. The than once a day perform better than those fed
highest percentage for leg was observed in T2 less frequently (13). Similarly, the results
(2.49%) which showed no significant (P>0.05) obtained from this study corroborated the
when compared to birds in T1 and T3.The report that says feeding birds more frequently
result further revealed that the highest value can improve feed efficiency and nutrient
for drumstick in T2 and T3 were 10.56% and utilization thereby reducing prolonged rearing
10.95% of the live weight of the birds. The non of broiler chickens (14).

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Table 3: Effects of daily feeding frequency on the carcass characteristics of broiler chickens
Parameters T1 T2 T3 SEM
Live weight (g) 2366.67c 26600.00b 2783.30a 118.70
Dress weight (g) 2050.00 2216.70 21833.30 58.78
Eviscerated Weight (g) 2000.00 2166.70 2116.70 88.78
Cut-up parts expressed as % of Live weight
Head 3.25 3.26 3.00 0.13
Leg 2.19 2.49 2.02 0.08
Shank 1.10 1.05 1.05 0.04
Drumstick 8.95b 10.56a 10.95a 0.36
Neck 2.45 3.14 2.68 0.15
Gizzard 2.33 2.45 2.43 0.08
Heart 0.45b 0.58a 0.48b 0.02
a, b ,c
means with same superscript along the row are not significantly different (p>0.05)
T1: Birds fed once daily at 7am,
T2: Birds fed twice daily at 7am and 12noon.
T3: Birds fed thrice daily at 7am, 12noon and 5pm.

Conclusion and application 4. NRC (National Research Council)

Based on the results of this study, it can be (1994): Nutrient requirement of
concluded that: poultry (9th revised edition) national
 Feeding birds more frequently have no academy press Washington D.C.,
significant effect on the growth U.S.A.
performance 5. Akinwunmi, M. A. (1999): Effect of
 Feeding more than once in a day has fish meal as a major source of protein
been observed to reduce feed wastage in broiler chickens. Nigerian Journal
thereby making more feed available of Animal Production. 22:53-64
for the birds 6. Oluyemi, J. A. and Robert, F. A
 Birds should be fed frequently at least (2000): Poultry production in warm
twice daily for better feed utilization wet climates, 2nd edition, Pp: 48 -60.
and reduction of wastage. 7. Ibe, S. N. (1990): Effect of feed
restriction on principal component
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