Response of Skip-a-Day Limit Fed Growing Pullets as Affected by Increased Micro-Nutrient Content in Diets under Semi Arid Swaziland

摘要

The study investigated growth and feed-cost benefit of limit-fed growing pullets as affected by increased micro-nutrients content in diets. Grower diet (1) was used as a control. Treatments 2, 3 and 4 pullets were deprived of 10, 20 and 30% plain feed to appetite respectively, while treatments 5, 6 and 7 were on the same limit-feeding, but with 25% increased micro-nutrients content each. Four hundred and twenty, 9- week old Hi- line W-77 were randomly divided into 7 groups of 60 birds with 3 replicates per group. Birds were allowed one day ad libitum feeding for all the groups, followed by 2-day limit feeding. Results showed 30% plain feed limit-fed pullets to be significantly (p<0.05) least in the final body mass, but birds on 10 and 30% diets with increased micro-nutrient were statistically comparable to those in the control. Daily mass gain was higher (p<0.05) in the 10 and 20% limit-fed pullets with increased premix than other groups. Birds on the control diet significantly (p<0.05) consumed more feed and the feed conversion was superior (p<0.05) in the limit-fed pullets with increased micro-nutrient content. It was more expensive to produce kg/mass in the control and 10% plain feed limit-fed pullets. The study concluded that limit-feeding of 9-week old pullets containing 25% increased micro-nutrient in the diets has comparable response in growth performance with superior economic advantage even at 30% feed restriction. Further investigation to determine the optimal premix usage at what level of restriction, will provide added information.