IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 14, Issue 7 Ser. II (July 2021), PP 01-04 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/2380-1407020104 www.iosrjournals.org 1 | Page Effect of house feed on weight change of commercial broilers at different marketing ages in Bangladesh Fouzder SK 1 , Khatun MA, Khan MSI, Abdulla MA and Islam MM Abstract This study investigated the effect of house feed on birds’ performances at market age. A 6-day trial with two house feeds (AIT and Paragon) and a standard broiler diet were conducted to know the weight gain, feed consumption and survivability of birds harvested at 28-day and 35-day age. A total of 270 birds were divided into three dietary treatments having three replicate with 15 birds each. The experiments repeated during three different seasons. Ad libitum feed and water and standard management practices were provided. Results indicate that lowered CP contents of house feeds markedly influenced weight gain of broilers. Birds on standard broiler diet gained on an average of 499g compared to those of two house feeds of 127 and 194g and these massive gap was due to feed containing all necessary nutrients. Harvesting age influenced a lot; heavier birds harvested on 35-day achieved higher (p>0.01) gain than those of 28-day (363 vs 184g) by consuming higher amount of feed irrespective of feed and season. Again season had no significant influence on weight gain, though differences in body weights were large throughout the study period. Feed consumptions did not follow the trend similar daily body weight. In most of the cases, feed consumption slightly decreased with the advancement of age. Birds consumed the lowest amount of house feed, Paragon throughout the study period. Broilers consumed AIT house feed at an increasing trend, but yielded lowest gain. Variable results were found in seasonal influence on birds’ feed consumption. Survivability was not affected either by feed type, harvesting age, rearing season or their interactions. Substantial variations in body weight, weight gain and feed consumption were interacted to produce significant results. Keywords: House feed, performances, location, harvesting age, season --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 06-07-2021 Date of Acceptance: 19-07-2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction House feed (also called market feed) is a low protein diet used to feed broilers in the wet market. Some feed manufacturers in Bangladesh are producing this sort of feed offering comparatively lower price only for the sustenance of live birds specially broilers before slaughter/or live disposal at wet market. Due to lower price this feed is relatively popular among the retailers in wet market. But, instead of using balanced diet it might cause loss of body weight. Growth performance and carcass composition become inferior to those of broiler chicks fed standard high-CP diets when the dietary CP content is lowered by more than three to four percentage points (Ferguson et al., 1998; Aletor et al., 2000). Thus, it is generally not recommended to lower the dietary CP content by more than about three percentage points (Kornegay and Verstegen, 2001; Lewis, 2001). In Bangladesh, live bird marketing is a popular practice at wet shop. Sometimes, retailers have to retain live broilers for 2-3 days in the shops with these sorts of house feeds. Some of the retailers use standard broiler diet also. State of weight change of broilers in the wet shops is needed to be investigated. The objective of the experiment reported herein was to explore the effects of using house feed on performances of broilers at market age before sacrifice. II. Materials and Methods Diet, bird and management Two house feed samples were collected form the market and were analysed in an accredited laboratory (SGS India Ltd.). Along with these two, a standard broiler diet was also included to compare the performances. Birds’ performances were measured at two harvesting ages i.e. at 28-day and 35-day of age. A total of 270 birds were allocated to three dietary treatment groups having three replications each with 15 birds. The study was replicated at two different geographical locations (Northern and Southern area) and in three different seasons (summer, rainy and winter) of a year. Ad libitum feed and clean drinking water was supplied to all the birds throughout the trial period. Standard management was provided for all the birds for a period of 6 days. 1 Corresponding author: Associate Professor, Department of Poultry Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University