Name: Raimundo Robinson

Student Registration #:
Name of School: El Dorado West Secondary School
Title of Project: Determining the performance of different broiler under
the same production system.
Project Start Date: 24th of April 2023.
Project End Date: 8th of June 2023.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page #

Introduction 2-3

List of Tools & Materials 4

Experimental Design 5

Production Practices 6-7

Results 8-13

Discussion 14

Conclusion 14

Limitation 14

Recommendation/s 14

1
 INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION
A broiler is any chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) that is bred and raised
specifically for the purpose of meat production. Some breeds of commercial
broilers reach slaughter weight as early as 4-6 weeks old. A typical characteristic
of broiler chickens is the fact that their feathers and skin are white.
Some Common breeds of broilers:
✓ Ross
✓ Hubbard
✓ Cobb 500
✓ Hy-line
Broiler Nutrition
Broilers are fed a commercial ration offered for sale on the open market.
At age 0-4 weeks chick are fed broiler starter. Broiler starter feed smaller granules
to help chicks digest their food more efficiently. Starter feed is typically higher in
protein 18% to 22% crude protein. Anything lower or significant higher in protein
content is inappropriate for use as a chick starter feed. Protein at this stage helps
chicks to improve rapid growth, increase their natural immunity to survive,
simulate gut development, and increase the nutrient absorption rate.
In the 4th week, Broiler Finisher Pellets are introduced to the birds. Finisher feed
is lower in protein and higher in energy. It can be used to increase the fat content
of the meat. This well-balanced diet is formulated to feed broiler chickens at the
finishing stage. The pellets are processed into 4mm into soft fresh and compact
particles that allow birds to eat less feed and gain more weight within a short
period.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
Which broiler breed (Ross 308/Hubbard) will gain the most weight in a six-week
period?

2
HYPOTHESIS
Hubbard will gain the most weight at the end of the six-week period.

AIM
To conduct an investigation to observe the weight gain on the broiler breeds Ross
308 vs Hubbard using the same feed.

3
 TOOLS AND MATERIALS

Tools & Materials Used in This Experiment:

Tools Materials
Waterers (Automatic/Manual) Sawdust
Knife Wood shavings
Feeders Disinfectant
Scale Newspaper/Paper
Boots Broiler Feed (Starter)
Shovel Broiler Feed (Finisher)
Scale Clean Water

Rake Cardboard Box

Day old chicks (32) Vinegar
Wheelbarrow Clear Plastic Bags
Broom

Electric Fan

Bucket

A light source (Heat)

Clipboard

Watering Can

4
 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
This experiment was conducted in a poultry house at El Dorado West Secondary
School on the 24th of April to the 8th of June 2023.
Thirty-two (32), day-old broiler chicks (17. Ross,15. Hubbard) were brought into
the school and rear in a brooder for 2 weeks. After brooding, the birds were
separated into 2 sections. Section 1 ‘the control’ and Section 2 ‘the treatment’
section. Hubbard were placed in Section 1 (control), while Ross was placed in
Section 2 (treatment). Both Sections were sanitized and both groups were given
feed and water daily. Both groups were observed for six-weeks until slaughter.

5
 PRODUCTION PRACTICES

PEN SANITATION
Before the arrival of the chicks, the pen was dusted, swept and sanitated. The pen
was sanitated using water and disinfectant.

BROODER PREPARATION
The pen in which the chicks were reared in was made with concrete blocks on the
outside and using deep litter system consisted of wood shavings. Lights were
provided to enable the birds to feed continuously at night and to provide heat.
Due to the time the experiment was conducted during the warmer part of the year,
fans were provided.

SEPARATION OF CHICKS
At week three, the chicks were separated using a barrier, spitting the pen into two
sections, Treatment group (Ross) and Control group (Hubbard)

WEEKLY WEIGHING
The chickens were weighed on a scale weekly. The weights were recorded.

FEEDING MANAGEMENT
The chicks were fed broiler starter daily for four weeks. There were cautiously
introduced to broiler finished by mixing it with starter feed in increasing amounts.
The chickens were given water via plastic waterers for the first two weeks. They
were washed refilled with clean water daily. At week three, the chickens were
introduced to automatic waterers. These waterers were sanitized daily.

6
LITTER MANAGEMENT
The litter was turned regularly using a rake picked up with a shovel; All raked or
wet litter was removed and replaced with clean wood shavings.

SLAUGHTER
The birds were sent to the Poultry Depot.

SALE OF BIRDS
The birds were sold at the end of 6 weeks dressed birds $16.00 per Ib.

7
 RESULTS

Table 1 shows: Broiler Survival

Age (Weeks) Broiler Breeds
Control-Hubbard Treatment-Ross
2 13 11
3 13 11
4 13 11
5 12 11
16 12 11

Table 1 shows that (control group) Hubbard has a high survival rate than
(treatment group) Ross.

8
Table 2 shows: Average Feed Consumption
Age (Weeks) Broiler Breed
Control-Hubbard Treatment-Ross
2 3.65 4.83
3 7.5 6.6
4 11.3 6.5
5 11.3 11.8
6 15.71 14.9

Table 2 shows the average feed consumption of the both breeds during the six-
week period. It also shows that Hubbard consumed more than Ross.

Graph showing: Average Feed Consumption

18
15.71
16 14.9
14
11.8
12 11.3 11.3

10
7.5
8 6.6 6.5
6 4.83
3.65
4

0
Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6

Control- Hubbard Treatment- Ross

Figure 1 showing Average Feed Consumption during the experiment.

9
 Total Feed Consumption per Group (Kg)
50 49.46

49

48

47

46

45 44.63

44

43

42

Control-Hubbard Treatment-Ross

Figure 2 showing the total amount of feed consumed per group. Control group
(Hubbard) consumed more feed than Treatment group (Ross).

10
Table 3 shows: Average Weight Gain (Per Bird)
Age (Weeks) Broiler Breed
Control-Hubbard Treatment-Ross
2 5.8 4.9
3 11.5 7.5
4 17.1 25.8
5 26.8 30.9
6 34.8 30.9

Table 3 shows the average weight gain of both breeds during the six-week period.
It also shows that treatment group (Ross) stopped gaining weight at the fifth
week.

Graph Showing: Weight Gain Increase over 6 weeks

40
34.8
35
30.9 30.9
30 26.8
25.8
25

20 17.1

15
11.5
10 7.5
5.8 4.9
5

0
Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6

Control-Hubbard Treatment-Ross

Figure 6 shows the weight gain of both groups (Ross, Hubbard) during the six-
week period. It also shows that treatment group (Ross) stopped growing at the
fifth week.
11
 Graph Showing: Total Amount of Live Weight Gain
101
100
100

99

98

97
96
96

95

94

Control-Hubbard Treatment-Ross

Figure 7 shows the total number of live weights gained by both groups (Hubbard,
Ross) during the experiment. It also shows that treatment group (Ross) gained
more weight than control group (Hubbard).

12
Table 4 shows: Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)
Age (Weeks) Broiler Breed
Control-Hubbard Treatment-Ross
2 1.6:1 1:1
3 1.5:1 1.1:1
4 1.5:1 4:1
5 2.4:1 2.6:1
6 2.2:1 2.1:1

Formula Used to Determine Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)

FORMULA: TOTAL AMOUNT OF FEED CONSUMED

TOTAL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT GAIN

Hubbard (Control): 49.46 = 1.9:1

96

Ross (Treatment): 44.63 = 2.2:1

100

13
DISCUSSION

BROILER SURVIVAL
Based on the results of this experiment treatment group (Ross) has a better
survival rate than control group (Hubbard).

FEED CONSUMED
The total amount of feed consumed by control group (Hubbard) was 4.83kg
more than the total amount of feed consumed by treatment group (Ross).

LIVE WEIGHT GAIN

The total amount of live weight gain of treatment group (Ross) was 4kg more
than the total amount of live weight gain of control group (Hubbard). This can
be influenced by the type of broiler breeds used.

FEED CONVERSION RATIO

Control group (Hubbard) has a lower F.C.R (1.9:1) than treatment group (Ross)
(2.2:1). This means that control group (Hubbard) ate less feed to gain 1kg of
body weight compared to treatment group (Ross). This can be influenced by the
broiler breeds used.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that broiler breed Hubbard had a better performance with an
F.C.R of 1.9:1 than broiler breed Ross during this experiment.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the results of the experiment, I recommend rearing broiler breed

Hubbard than Ross.

LIMITATIONS

Some things that were out of control are:

• Heat Stress
• Weather Conditions
• Time of the year the experiment was conducted (Warmer part of the year)
14
15