Comparison of Broiler Production Performance in Three Major Seasons in Bangladesh

Abstract

This experiment was carried to evaluate production performance, meat yield characteristics, chemical composition of meat, proximate component of supplied feed and profitability of broiler strains in different season. A total of 405 ( 135+ 135+ I 35) day-old broiler chicks were collected from the purchasing outlets of two (02) breeding hatcheries named Kazi Farms Ltd. and Aftab Farms Ltd. Rangpur, Bangladesh. The chicks were placed in an open house and were exposed in summer, rainy and winter seasons. Chicks as hatched broilers belonging to 3 strains, 45 of each strain were reared in three seasons: summer, rainy and winter having 135 to each season with 3 replications l 5 chicks per pen. They were fed ad-libitum up to 28 days to make a comparison on their production performances. In first and second weeks of age feed consumption among the broiler strains (Cobb-500 124.88gm and 457 .6 I gm; Hubbard Classic 148.8gm and 540.26gm; Arbor Acres 104.44gm and 409.62gm) differed highly significant (p<0.00 I) in summer season. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in body weight for first and second weeks of age (Cobb-S00 181.99gm and 419.23gm; Hubbard Classic 170.17gm and 525.84gm; Arbor Acres 151.55gm and 452.00gm) in this season. FCR were also significant (p<0.05) for first and second week (Cobb-500 0.68 and 1.11; Hubbard Classic 0.87 and 1.03; Arbor Acres 0.69 and 0.91) of age in summer season. In fourth week, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in feed intake (Cobb-500 1737 .75gm; Hubbard Classic 1879.38gm; Arbor Acres 11938.95gm) among three different broiler strains in rainy season. The significant differences (p<0.05) in body weight gain between Cobb-500 (1265.89gm) and Arbor Acres ( 1408.84) were observed at fourth week age in this season. The feed conversion ratio significantly (p<0.05) affected at third weeks of age between Hubbard Classic (I .45) and Arbor Acres ( 1.33) in rainy season. In third week of age, feed consumption (Cobb-500 873.53gm; Hubbard Classic 740.90gm; Arbor Acres 692.60gm) among the strains differed highly significant (p<0.001) in winter season. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in body weight gain among the three different broiler strains in this season. The feed conversion ratio (Cobb-500 1.39; Hubbard Classic 1.19; Arbor Acres 1.02) were affected highly significant (p<0.001) at third week of age in winter season. The dressing weight (Cobb-500 62.66; Hubbard Classic 57.42; Arbor Acres 55.59) percentage of three different broiler strains was significant (p<0.05) in summer season. In winter season there were significant differences (p<0.01) in dressing weight percentage (Cobb-500 54.59; Hubbard Classic 55.85; Arbor Acres 52.29) in three different broiler strains. The proximate component of broiler meat and supplied feed were significantly differed in different parameter. There were highly significant differences (p<0.001) were found in net profit of per kg live weight in summer and winter seasons. In rainy season the significant differences (P<0.01) were also found in net profit of per kg live weight.

Hubbard Classic performed the best in summer season compared to Cobb-500 and Arbor Acres on the basis of I ive weight. Arbor Acres showed better performance in rainy and winter season in comparison with Hubbard Classic andCobb-500 on the basis of live weight. Summer and rainy season reared broiler strains were heavier than winter season. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of Hubbard Classic and Arbor Acres were suitable in summer and winter season respectively. But Cobb-500 and Arbor Acres both were also suitable in rainy season. According to dressing percentages, Cobb-500 were performed the satisfactory result in summer season. But Hubbard Classic was also suitable in both rainy and winter season. This experiment showed the highest market price of Cobb-500, Hubbard Classic and Arbor Acres in summer and rainy season. So, more profit was found for higher growth performance.

It was concluded that the productive performance and meat yield characteristics is achievable if the different broiler strains were reared to maintain the seasonal variation. Moreover, Hubbard Classic were able to show superior performance and more profitable in summer season. Finally, some recommendations were made to ensure growth performance and profitability in summer and rainy season of broiler strains in Bangladesh.