Evaluation of feed efficiency and growth performance of slow-growing indigenous chicken under different rearing systems

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate feed efficiency and growth parameters of slow-growing indigenous chicken raised for meat production under different rearing systems. Material and Methods: Two treatments, pasture-raised system (PRS) (treatment) with six rep- licates and Intensive Rearing System-IS (control) with three replicates, were tested. The birds in the treatment were fed only 80% of the daily feed requirement, while in the control, 100% of the requirement was provided. Birds in both were fed with the same cereal-based starter/grower/ finisher diets, based on age. Daily feed intake and weekly body weight were measured. Daily body weight gain (DBWG), average body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and residual feed intake (RFI) were calculated. Results: The crude protein and metabolizable energy contents of the formulated starter, grower, and finisher diets were 22.74% ± 0.20%, 20.97% ± 0.20%, 20.63% ± 0.20%, and 2,495.94 ± 44.47 kcal/kgDM, 2,909.11 ± 44.47 kcal/kgDM, and 2,927.78 ± 44.47 kcal/kgDM, respectively. The DBWG during the grower and finisher stages of control (18.99 ± 0.66 gm and 16.79 ± 0.66 gm) were sig- nificantly higher (p ˂ 0.05) than the treatment (14.24 ± 0.46 gm and 14.72 ± 0.46 gm). Overall FCR in the treatment (4.28 ± 0.20) and the control (4.62 ± 0.28) was not significantly different. The RFI was significantly lower (p ˂ 0.05) in the treatment in both grower and finisher stages (−0.0206 ± 0.006 and −0.0205 ± 0.010) than the control (0.0474 ± 0.009 and 0.0265 ± 0.014). Conclusion: Considering the ABW and DBWG, slow-growing indigenous chickens fed cereal-based formulated diets under an intensive system are more profitable. However, when assessing RFI, a pasture-raised system proves more efficient than an intensive system. Hence, the farmer could choose either pasture-raised or an intensive management system, depending on t