Influence of Feed Supplementation and Preventive Medication on Survivability and Growth of Free Range Broilers Chickens

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of feed supplementation and preventive medications on the survivability, carcass yield, haematological profile and revenue generation of free range broiler chickens. A Completely randomized Design (CRD) experiment was conducted with 200 HYBRO^R broiler chicks randomly allocated to Five treatment groups:Treatment1 intensively reared broiler chickens (control), free range broiler chickens without intervention (Treatment 2, free range broiler chickens that were given preventive medications (treatment 3), free range broiler chickens that were given feed supplementation (treatment 4), free range broiler chickens that were given feed supplementation plus preventive medications (treatment5) and local free range chickens (treatment 6).  Treatment 2 -5 each consisted of 4 local hens and a brood, each of10 HYBRO^R broiler chickens adopted by the hens at day – old. Each hen and her brood served as a replicate. Treatment 1 chickens attained 1.86kg live weight in 9 weeks with a feed conversion efficiency of 2.68 and 95% survival rate. at 15 weeks of age,  the live weights and rates of survival for the free ranging broiler chickens were 1450g, 38%, (treatment 2), 1570g, 75% ( treatment 3), 1580g, 56 %, (treatment 4), 1760g, 77% (treatment 5). Treatment 6 chicks were 0098g   at 15 weeks 50% survival and were 1230g at 25 weeks of age. Carcass yield (dressing %) were 77, 68.4, 72.3, 74.3, 75.7 and 54.5 for treatment 1, 2,3,4,5 and 6 respectively. Statistical differences between treatments means was tested at 5% significance level. Carcass yield was significantly higher for broiler chickens compared to local chickens, while among broiler chickens carcass yield was significantly lower foe those that received neither preventive medication or feed supplementation. Intensively reared broiler chickens at 9 weeks had significantly higher PCV (38.75%), RBC (2.5 (x 103/ml), and WBC (237.3  (x 103/ml) values compared to free range broiler chickens and local chickens at 15 and 25 weeks of age. The free range broiler chickens without intervention had least values for PCV, WBC and Hbc values compared to free range broiler chickens medicated or feed supplemented. Survival rates were significantly lower for broiler chickens reared on free range, compared to intensive rearing, but preventive medication improved this significantly.  The return on investment was 60% for broiler chickens on treatment 5. This study concluded that the combination of preventive medications and feed supplementations yielded the best performance and survival rates amongst the free range broiler chickens. Sustainable use of medications is recommended to minimize antimicrobial resistance.