Comparative Study of Broiler Feeds in Bhutan

AUTHOR: Karma Nidup and Pema Wangchuk 

ABSTRACT

The trial to asses the quality of two broiler feed types: i) Feed manufactured in Bhutan by Karma Feed Group (KFG) and ii) Feed imported from India manufactured by Samrat Feed Group (SFG), was conducted by determining their nutrient content, growth rates of broiler birds, and feed efficiency. To conduct this experiment, day old chicks (Vencobb strain) were divided into two groups, KFG 97 birds and SFG 99 birds, reared in the two separate pens at the College of Natural Resources poultry farm for 42 days. The live-weight gain, dressing %, and feed efficiency were better in SFG as compared to KFG. The feed conversion ratio for SFG and KFG broiler birds was 2.05 and 2.65 respectively. The two-sample t-test suggests that there is a significant difference (P<0.05) between live-weight of SFG and KFG birds. Similarly, the carcass weight was significantly (P<0.05) higher in SFG birds. This suggests that imported feed is of higher quality than in-country feed. This is due to high CP content, good feeding value, and better overall quality of ex-country feed when compared to in-country feed.

KEYWORDS:

Broiler birds, Samrat feed, Karma feed, nutrient content, growth rate, feed efficiency, Bhutan.

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