Comparing the performance of broiler chickens fed pelletized and re-ground pelletized feed under deep litter housing system

A total of one hundred and fifty day old broiler chicks were used to comparably evaluate the performance of birds fed pelletized diet and those fed re-ground pelletized feed. At the end of brooding, the birds were grouped into three of fifty birds each, with each treatment group having five replicates of ten birds per replicate. The first group of birds were fed on 100% whole pelletized feed, the second group were fed on 100% reground pelletized feed, while the third group of birds were fed on 50% whole pelletized feed and 50% reground pelletized feed. The results showed significant (P<0.05) differences in the final weight, initial weight, feed conversion rate, weight gain and daily weight gain. The feed intake showed no significance (P<0.05) difference. Also there were significant (P<0.05) differences in the live weight, defeathered weight, dressed weight, wing weight, thigh weight, drumstick weight, chest cavity weight and backcut weight. There were no significant (P<0.05) differences in the cut parts expressed as percentage of the dressed weight. Furthermore, there were significant (P<0.05) differences in the weight of the liver, heart, gizzard and proventriculus. There were no significant (P<0.05) differences in the weight of the spleen and kidney. For the organs expressed as percentage of the defeathered weight, the heart, spleen and kidney were not significantly (P<0.05) different; while the liver, gizzard and proventriculus were significantly (P<0.05) different.