Changing Time of Feeding Starter, Grower, and Finisher Diets for Broilers 3. Birds Grown to 3.3 kg

Abstract Two experiments were conduct to determine the effect of changing time of feeding starter (SD), grower (GD), and finisher (FD) diets on live performance and carcass composition of broilers grown to approximately 1 kg. In Experiment 1, SD were fed to 7, 14, or 21 days, with combinations of GD and FD fed to 28 days. In Experiment 2, SD were fed to 7, 14, or 21 days with GD subsequently fed to 28 days. Male broilers grown to 28 days attained the desired weight of 1 kg on all feeding programs. Inclusion of FD from 21 to 28 days resulted in a reduction in body weight, a deterioration in feed conversion and calorie utilization, and an increase in abdominal fat. Different feeding strategies did not affect carcass yield. Using typical poultry industry diets, optimum time of feeding SD for birds grown to a target weight of 1 kg appear to be no more than 14 days and may lie between 7 and 14 days. Based on typical cost differences between SD and GD, the economic impact of changing from SD to GD at earlier ages may be considerable. Use of diets of different nutrient content may alter these recommendations.