Effect of density and feeding programs on broiler chickens performance

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of density and feeding programs on the productive performance and carcass and prime cuts yield in broiler chickens at 42 days of age. A completely randomized design, in a 3x2 (density x feeding programs) factorial scheme, with three replications, was used. The densities were: 10, 12 and 16 birds/m(2). The feeding was composed of program 1 (four diets): pre-initial, initial, growing and finishing and program 2 (five diets): pre-initial I, pre-initial II, initial, growing and finishing. In the phase from 1 to 7 days there was significant difference among densities for feed intake, weight gain and feed:gain ratio. For the phase from 15 to 21 and 22 to 28 days the better results of weight gain and feed:gain were obtained in the density of 16 aves/m(2). No significant differences were observed for the phases from 8 to 14, 29 to 35 and 36 to 42 days and total period of age among the feeding programs and between densities for all evaluated parameters. It is recommended for males broiler chickens, from 1 to 42 days old, the density of 16 aves/m(2), independent of the feeding program.