A Comparative Analysis of the Growth Rate, Body Weight Gain, and Feed Conversion Ratio of Broilers Raised Under Ad Libitum and Restricted Feeding Programs

Abstract

Background: Among the various feeding strategies employed, two
predominant methods have emerged as the primary focus of research
and industry implementation: ad libitum and restricted feeding
programs.
Objectives: This comparative study aimed to assess the growth rate,
body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of broilers raised
under ad libitum and restricted feeding programs.
Methods: A total of 350-day-old broiler chicks were assigned to two
groups. The broilers under ad libitum feeding exhibited higher growth
rates throughout the six-week study period, with average weight gains
of 165.2 grams, 427.5 grams, 864.7 grams, 1405.5 grams, 2008.8
grams, and 2330.7 grams in successive weeks. In contrast, the broilers
under restricted feeding showed lower growth rates, ranging from
140.7 grams to 2020.1 grams in the corresponding weeks.
Results: The ad libitum group also consumed consistently higher
amounts of feed compared to the restricted group. However, there were
no statistically significant differences in FCR between the two feeding
programs.
Conclusion: These findings highlighted the importance of providing
broilers with continuous access to feed to optimize their growth, while
further research is needed to validate the results and explore FCR
variations.