COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT ECONOMIC TRAITS OF FOUR IMPORTED BROILER STRAINS UNDER LOCAL CONDITIONS OF PAKISTAN.

The study was initiated to compare the performance of economic traits of four internationally reputed broiler strains, imported in Pakistan, under the local environmental and management conditions. A total of 360 day old chicks of four broiler strains (90 from each strain) were procured from the local hatcheries and designated as four treatments i.e., A (Hubbard), B (Arbor Acres), C (Ross 308) and D (Hybro PN). The chicks were raised under recommended rearing requirements for 7 weeks and the economic traits measured were body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, antibody titres, dressing percentage and economic evaluation as cost of broiler per kilogram live weight produced. The average body weights gained by the birds were 2264g, 2277g, 2256g and 1942g for A, B, C and D strains, respectively at 49 days of age. The birds in treatments A, B and C gained significantly (P <0.05) more weight than the birds in treatment D. On the contrary, the birds in treatment D (4371g) consumed significantly (P <0.05) less feed than birds in treatments A (4896g), B (4934g) and C (4905g) at 7 weeks of age. The FCR's in order of merit were 2.16(A), 2.17(B), 2.18(C) and 2.25(D) and differences were non-significant. The dressing percentage of birds in treatment A (71.4%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than treatment C (68.1) and were non significant among the remaining treatments. The mortality in Hubbard strain (A) was significantly (P<0.05) low (4.4%) than Hybro PN, Ross 308 and Arbor Acres-strains. The overall performance of Hubbard strain seems better as the birds gained more body weight, gave better FCR, least mortality and least cost per kg live broiler produced as compared to other strains. The performance of strain D was poor as the birds gained less body weight, showed higher mortality rate, poor feed conversion ratio and incurred more cost to produce per kilogram live broiler as compared to other strains. The evaluation of different imported broiler strains must continue to remain abreast with the genetic improvement of broiler strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]