Performance of Hubbard and Marshall strains of broiler chickens fed different energy levels in a hot environment

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the performance of Hubbard and Marshall strains of broilers fed with varying energy levels during the hot environment. The two strains were reared for 8 weeks. Three-hundred-day-old birds hatched from two commercial broiler strains (Hubbard and Marshall) were raised to 8 weeks of age. Each strain consisted of 150 birds and each group was sub-divided into 2 dietary treatments, high and low energy levels with 15 replicates each. The birds were fed ad libitum with starter mash (1 - 4 weeks) containing 2,911 and 3282Kcal/KgME (diet 1), 22 and 24% CP as low energy diet at starter phase with the respects of their protein and finisher feed (5-8 weeks) containing 2,827 and 3,178Kcal//KgME (diet 2), also with the respect of their protein 19 and 21%CP. There were no significant (P > 0.05) in strains and energy diet differences on body weight gain at starter phase but at finisher phase there were significant different (P <0.05) at both.