SELECTED WELFARE PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKENS ON DIFFERENT FEED QUANTITY AND TIME 1 K. O.BELLO, 1 T. S.BODE -KASE E M, 2 A. O.LALA, 1 S. O.OLADELE, 1 O. M.SOGUNLE, 2 O. T. IRE KHORE AND 3 B.M. ILORI 1 Department of Animal Production and Health, 2 Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria 3 Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK *Corresponding author: : kazeembello19@gmail.com ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine welfare of broiler chickens fed ad libitum and restricted feed during early (08.00hour) and late (16:00hour) of the day. One hundred and eighty (21d old) broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 4 treatments in a 2x2 factorial arrangement comprising of ad libitum and restricted feeding (75% of ad libitum) quantity at 8 and 16 hours feeding time in three repli- cates. Data were collected on leg problem, dust bathing, body temperature, mortality and haematolo- gy. Result revealed that neither feed quantity nor time had significant (P>0.05) effect on leg problem, dust bathing and mortality of broiler chickens. Broiler chickens under ad lib feed quantity and 16:00hours feeding time had (P<0.05) highest body temperature (40.93 o C) while those under ad libi- tum morning (08:00hours) recorded the least (40.75°C). Pack Cell Volume had similar (P>0.05) in- crease from 26.75% at the beginning (21d) to 31.25 (%) at 56d with broiler chickens under restricted feeding and fed at 16:00hours feeding time. Basophil count reduced from a range of 0.5-2% (P<0.05) to 1% (P>0.05) with restricted feeding. Also eosinophil reduced from 2-4% (P<0.05) range to 0-2.5% (P>0.05) with restricted feeding while birds under ad lib increased from 0-1% (P<0.05) at 21d to 2.75% (P>0.05) at 56d. Better welfare (good body temperature) of broiler chicken could be achieved with early feeding time irrespective of quantity. However, restricted feeding could be explored in broiler production where reduced basophil, eosinophil and stress are vital for enhanced welfare and perfor- mance. Keywords: broiler chicken; feed quantity; feeding time; welfare Journal of Agricultural Science and E nvironment ISSN: Print - 2277 - 0755 Online - 2315 - 7453 © FUNAAB 2015 59 J. Agric. Sci. & Env. 2015, 15(2): 59 - 67 INTRODUCTION Poultry birds that render economic im- portance to man and reproduce under his care are referred to as domestic fowls (chickens), ducks, turkeys, geese, guinea fowls, quail etc. They are kept for meat or egg or both and are good sources of animal protein to man. With the active work on breeding and selection for productive and adaptive traits, scientists have been able to develop fast growing chickens with very good growth and meat yield without sacrific- ing adaptation to their perceived environ- ment. Broilers are the main meat type bird