Free choice feedling (whole cereal grains + pelleted complementary feed) of broilers under hot climate

Abstract

Food intake and growth of broilers are limited by high environmental temperatures. Free choice feeding (FCF), including whole grains (cereals) and a complementary concentrate, was compared to a complete feed, ground (CFG) or pelleted (CFP) to study the ability of broilers to adjust their energy and protein intake to their needs. 1 012 “JV15” broilers were divided into 24 groups in two experiments, either during dry season (DS) or cooler rainy season (RS). Each group received one of six diets: CFG, CFP or one of four FCF combinations composed of maize or millet and of two complementary concentrates. 56 day old broilers weighed 25 % more during RS than in DS. Whatever the season, FCF fed broilers weighed 4-7 % more than the CFG fed broilers. On the contrary, the liveweight of FCF and CFP fed broilers were similar during the DS (CFP not tested during RS). A week of adaptation to FCF was necessary ; after this delay, energy/protein ratio was similar for the 4 FCF diets and CFP. With this technic, the direct use of grain is possible without transport, grinding, mixing and pelleting. The shadow price of complementary feed depends on those of grains and CFP.