Bio-economic evaluation of broiler production with different sex ratios

Sex of birds creates a fundamental difference in the physiological and nutritional requirements. For example, the feed conversion ratio of female broiler chicks is higher than that of males (over 30 days of age), which results in more fat storage in the body of females (Verapeen and Driver 2000). Although there are several reports on the superiority of male chicks to females in various economic traits such as average daily gain (Verapin and Driver 2000; Ojedapo et al. 2008; Zamani et al. 2012); feed intake (Fischer 1985; Laseinde and Oluyemi 1994; Zamani et al. 2012) and carcass traits (Verapeen and Driver 2000; Ojedapo et al. 2008; Zuowei et al. 2011; Taghan Agh et al. 2011), on the contrary, it has been shown that the mixed rearing of males and females leads to stimulation of protein anabolism, nitrogen uptake and mineral retention and so a higher weight gain at the end of the breeding period (Iyeghe –Erakpotobor 2001). This study was conducted to compare the bio-economic indexes of broiler production with different sex ratios from 11 to 42 days of age.
Material and The experiment was done using 180 Ross 308 broilers in 5 sex ratio groups (Group 1: 25% male and 75% female, Group 2: 50% female and 50% male, Group 3: 75% male and 25% female, Group 4: 100% female and Group 5: 100% male) with 3 replicates and 12 birds per replicate by employing a completely randomized design. Grower (11-24 days) and finisher (25-42 days) periods’ ration of broilers were balanced based on Ross-308 catalog. Feed intake (FI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured for each experimental group at the grower (11-24 days), finisher (25-42 days) and total (11-42 days) periods based on the hen- day method. At the end of the experiment (forty-second day), European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) and European Broiler Index (EBI) and also carcass traits after 9 hours starving were calculated by selecting 4 chicks per pen considering the sex ratio of each group. For economic evaluation, an index was formulated to determine the worst and best rearing periods (2014-2015) and then costs of grower and finisher rations based on 3 ways of pricing (Rials/kg) contains mean price of 2015, mean price of worst period and mean price of best period were estimated. To estimate income and profit, 3 methods of sale methods were included sale of live chicken, sale of carcass and Half-split sale. So, means of income and profit (Rials/chick) in studied groups were estimated based on 9 economic evaluation methods (3 sale methods×3 pricing methods).
Feed intake was significant only in grower period (11-24 d) and groups with 25% and 75% males had the highest amount of feed intake (P According to the results of comparing profit using different economic evaluation methods, it can be recommended that mixed sex production of broiler chickens will be alright when the proportion of males not to be less than 50%.