Effect of Single and Multiple Diets Feeding on Broiler Performance, Carcass Yield and Gastrointestinal Development

This experiment was conducted to the examine effect of feeding single and multiple diets with different levels of nutrients on broiler performance. Birds were randomly assigned to five treatments including: control (two diets, high nutrients), 3H (three diets, high nutrients), 1H (single diet, high nutrients), 3L (three diets, low nutrients) and 1L (single diet, low nutrients). Body weight (BW), Body weight gain (BWG), feed, energy and protein intakes, carcass yield and gastrointestinal organs were recorded. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and calorie conversion ratio (CCR) were calculated. BW of SL and SH groups and BWG for 1L, 1H and 3L groups were significantly lower than those of control group, however these treatments showed compensatory growth. Feed and calorie intakes of 1L group and protein intakes of 1L, 3L and 1H groups were significantly lower than those of control group. FCR and CCR for 1L and 1H groups were significantly higher than other groups. Weight of carcass, breast and leg for 1L group and breast for 1H group were significantly lower than those of control group. Actual weight of gastrointestinal organs for 1L group at 21 day decreased. Results showed that level of nutrients in the late stage of rearing period can be decreased without negative effect on broiler performance. However, single diet feeding program with low level of nutrients indicated decrease in performance of broiler and decrease in carcass yield was observed with single diet feeding regardless of level of nutrients.