EFFECT OF RESTRICTED DIETS ON THE GROWTH AND MEAT COMPOSITION OF BROILERS: Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan

The trail on effect of restricted diets on the growth and meat composition of broilers was conducted at Department of Animal Nutrition, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan. fifty poultry feed ingredients were randomly selected and 30 least cost ingredients were purchased and analyzed for proximate analysis. After proximate analysis, three rations were formulated from 14 ingredients designated as Ration 1 (17% CP and 2900 ME), Ration 2 (21% CP and 2800 ME) and Ration 3 (24% CP and 2700 ME). After ration formulation, 45, day old chicks were purchased and reared for each ration for six weeks. Chicks of each ration were further divided in three groups i-e A, B and C having 15 chicks each. The chicks of each group were also divided in three replicates having 05 chicks. Group A was reared as control, group B was restricted to feed for 04 hours in brooding to rearing stage and group C was restricted to feed for 08 hours daily in brooding to rearing stage. Results revealed the initial weight of a day-old broilers was non-significant (P 0.05) feed consumption (2218.74 g) was observed in group B2, water consumption 7095.3 ml , and final body weight 1134.76 g in B3 , weight gain 1086.61 g (B3), carcass weight 716 g (B3), dressing % 63.10% (B3), FCR 1.853 (B3). Significant (P>0.05) maximum meat moisture content 72.87% was noted in group B3, meat protein 13.77% in B3, fat % 4.78% in C1, and ash 1.85% in B2. The better per bird profit gain of Rs. 89.71 was recorded in B2. It was concluded that the broilers can be restricted their feed (containing 24% CP and 2700 ME) for 04 hours daily in brooding to rearing period for better growth and meat composition but per bird profit margin was low due to high cost of production therefore, broilers can be reared economically on ration 2 containing 21% CP and 2800 ME and their feed can be restricted for 04 hours daily.