Performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens receiving diets with hydrolyzed feather meal

Abstract

The objective was evaluate the effect of increasing levels of hydrolyzed feather meal (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 %) in broilers chicken diets from seven to 42 days of age. There were used 480 Cobb, female at one day, housed in 30 experimental units, each one, with 16 birds. The randomized block design was used with six replicates. Five isocaloric and isoproteic experimental diets were formulated on digestible aminoacid basis to the phases of 7 to 21, 22 to 34 and 35 to 42 days. The birds were weighed for uniformity of the parcels in each block at seven days of age, and weighed at weekly intervals for evaluation of live weigh, consumption and feed: gain ratio. At 42 days, in each experimental unit, two broilers representing the average weight of the box were slaughtered for carcass and cut evaluation. The weight gain, fed consumption and feed:gain ratio were, respectively, 2,151 g, 4,197 g and 1.95. The weights carcass, breast, thigh, drumstick and abdominal fat were, respectively, 1.671 g, 569 g, 218 g, 275 g and 49,3 g. The 1 % FPH inclusion in diets for broiler chicken observed increase of 18 g to body weight gain and 0.015 units to feed:gain ratio. In conclusion, the feather meal can be used in the diets of broilers females at up to 8%, without causing prejudice to the weight gain.