Two experiments were carried out in order to compare the effects of whole and separate grinding of feed ingredients and physical form of ration on performance of broiler chickens and weights of digestive organs. In the first experiment, 1200 day-old broiler Avian Farms chicks of both sexes were used during the 43 days of trial, following a complete randomized design of four treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement: two methods of grinding (whole and separate) x two physical forms of rations (mash and pellet), with six replications of 50 birds per treatment. In the second experiment, 256 day-old Avian Farms broiler chicks of both sexes were used during the 41 days of trial, following the same design, but with four replications of sixteen birds per treatment. The body weights were: 2.54; 2.48; 2.37 and 2.27kg/bird for separate and whole grinding pellet rations, and separate and whole grinding mash rations, respectively (P<0.05). Feed consumptions were in the following order: 4.73; 4.88; 4.54 and 4.35kg/bird (P<0.05) for separate and whole grinding pellet rations, and separate and whole grinding mash forms, respectively (P<0.05). Feed conversion was lower in the separate grinding and pellet ration, and mortality was higher (P<0.05) with the whole grinding pellet ration. The relative weights (% body weight) of gizzard and pancreas were lower (P<0.05), in chickens fed with whole grinding and pellet ration. The relative weights (% body weight) of gizzard and pancreas were lower (P<0.05) in chickens fed with whole grinding and pellet ration.
Broiler; whole grinding; particle size; pellet
