COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS ON COMMERCIAL AND CORN-SOYBEAN MEAL BASED RATIONS

A study was conducted to compare the effect of feeding commercial formula ration and corn-soybean meal based rations on growth performance, feed conversion ratio, mortality percentage, dressing percentage, carcass composition and economics of raising broiler chicks at commercial farms. 3000 day old broiler chicks were randomly divided into 4 groups with 3 replicates of 250 birds in each. Four iso-nitrogenous and isocaloric rations (A, B, C and D) were prepared and randomly allotted to each group. Ration A was a commercial broiler ration whereas ration B had the same formula with the exception that all the animal protein sources were replaced with soybean meal (SBM). Ration C was based on only corn and SBM. Ration D contained corn, SBM and 25% fullfat soybean (FFSB). The birds were given the experimental rations starter from day 1 to 28 and finisher from 29 to 49. The results indicated that the birds fed on corn-soybean meal based rations gained significantly figher weights showed better feed conversion ratio, gave higher dressing percentage with better carcass composition, lower mortality and higher net profits as compared to those fed on commercial ration. The replacement of animal protein sources in commercial ration with SBM (ration B) although did not show any significant differences in the performance of birds as compared to ration A, a little improvement was visible indicating that SBM can be used as a good substitute of animal protein sources. Similarly the replacement of SBM with FFSB up to a level of 25% did not affect the broiler performance as compared to only SBM.