Stocking & antibiotics impact broiler performance

摘要

Over 2 kg liveweight with feed:gain of 1.50 at 35 days! How close can you get to that, ask V. RAVINDRAN and DON V. THOMAS. The effects of stocking density (16, 20 and 24 birds/m2) and zinc bacitracin (0 or 100 mg/kg) on performance and carcass characteristics of broilers to 3 5 days of age were examined. Weight gain and feed intake were increased (P<0.05) by zinc bacitracin during the finisher phase (22-35 days) and over the 35-day trial period. During the finisher phase and over the whole trial period, feed/gain of birds at the highest density (24 birds/m2) was poorer (P<0.05) than at the other two densities. Carcass characteristics were not affected by stocking density or zinc bacitracin.