Growth and Feed Standards for Broilers — 1963 



By C. J. Wabeck and W. C. Skoglund* 



BROILER growth and feed standards provide a means whereby the 

 commercial broiler grower may compare his flock against a standard 

 for growth, feed consumption, and feed conversion at different age levels. 

 In order to meet competition, every effort should be made to meet or 

 exceed these standards. 



The Department of Poultry Science, at the University of New Hamp- 

 shire, has published two bulletins, in the past, Station Bulletin 401 in 

 1952 and Station Bulletin 466 in 1959, to provide up-to-date informa- 

 tion on growth and feed standards. Due to rapid improvements in feed, 

 management recommendations, and strains of broilers, such standards 

 are outdated and new up-to-date figures are needed. 



Data was obtained from four commercially available strains of broilers 

 during the period of 1962-63. The birds were assigned randomly by 

 strain to pens of 140 birds each, at the rate of one square foot per bird. 

 A total of eight pens were used for each trial. The chicks were brooded 

 by a central hot water heating system. A four foot watering trough in 

 each pen provided approximately 0.8 inches per chick of watering space. 

 Feeder capacity was increased proportionately with age until four weeks 

 of age when approximately 3.1 inches of feeder space was provided for 

 each bird for the duration of the trial. A high energy broiler feed in 

 crumble form was fed for the first three weeks of age, and pellets were 

 fed for the remainder of the trial. A total of 4,480 birds were reared in 

 four different trials during all seasons of the year. 



Table I presents the average weekly weights and gains for the males, 

 females, and mixed sexes. 



Table II presents the weekly and cumulative feed consumption and 

 feed conversion figures. 



Table III shows the comparative figures for 1953, 1959 and 1963 for 

 broiler weight, feed consumption and conversion. 



* Mr. Wabeck is a Graduate Research Assistant, New Hampshire Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station. Dr. Skoglund is Professor of PouUry Science and Poultry Scientist, 

 New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station. 



