EFFECT OF TUBULAR FEEDER HEIGHT ON PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS OF BROILERS FROM 28 TO 42 DAYS OF AGE

Abstract

This paper aimed to study the effect of tubular feeder height on performance, carcass traits and feed microbiological aspects of broilers from 28 to 42 days of age. Eight hundred and eighty female Ross broilers Ross were randomly allotted into 40 pens (replications) with 22 broilers each (11 birds/m²). Broilers were submited to two feeders height in two periods (28 to 35 days of age – high feeder (HF): superior edge 20cm height; low feeder (LF): superior edge 11cm height; 36 to 42 days of age – HF: superior edge 25cm height; LF: superior edge 11cm height). A completely randomized design was used and t test was utilized to compare the treatment averages. No significant differences for performance traits from 28 to 42 days of age were observed. Therefore, the recommendation for regulating feeder height to the birds’ back as in most of the poultry management guides does not seem to proceed. Birds fed in LF presented low percentage of intermuscular fat in the legs and high percentage of muscular tissue in leg quarters. Additionally, more wood shavings were found inside the feeders in LF than in HF at the end of trial, even though this variable did not influence negatively the microbiological quality of feed.
KEYWORDS: Carcass, fat, feed, microbiology, muscular tissue.