EFFECT OF FEED RESTRICTION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME AND SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS IN BROILER CHICKENS

The study aimed to determine the effects of feed restriction on growth, feed efficiency, sudden death syndrome (SDS) and some blood parameters in broilers. One hundred mixed sex chicks (Avian 48) were randomly allocated into two treatment groups each of 50 chicks (5 replicates). Broilers in the first treatment fed ad libitum until the end of the experiment (35 days of age), while feeds in the other treatment were restricted by 20% from 7 to 21 days. Broilers fed ad- libitum had significantly high body weight gain, better feed conversion and high mortality rate compared with the restricted broilers. Although the mortality rate was significantly higher in ad libitum fed broilers, their better feed efficiency significantly rise the income over feed cost (IOFC). Feed restriction lowered serum lipids and triglycerides associated with macrocytic anemia. Inconclusion, feed restriction negatively affected growth performance, blood parameters and IOFC. Therefore, results support ad libitum feeding for broiler chickens.