Updated nutritional program improves performance, carcass yield, and profitability in male and female broilers

A study was conducted to assess the impact of nutritional advancements on broiler production and economic profitability. A total of 1,600 broiler chickens were distributed into eight treatments, with ten replicates and 20 birds per experimental unit. The treatments followed a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement, with sex (male and female) and four nutritional programs (Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine - BT 2024, BT 2017, BT 1983, and Cobb 2022). Growth performance was assessed from 01 to 42 days of age. Carcass trait was assessed at 42 days of age. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at 27 and 42 days of age. Data were submitted to ANOVA at a 5 % significance level, and differences were determined using the SNK test (P < 0.05). An economic analysis considered feed cost per bird, feed cost per kilogram of ADG, gross revenue, and net revenue per bird. Broiler performance, carcass traits, and body composition were influenced by the interaction between sex and nutritional program. Assessing the programs within each sex, for males and females, BT 2024 and BT 2017 improved performance, body composition, and carcass traits compared with BT 1983, with Cobb 2022 showing intermediate results. However, the lowest feed intake was observed in BT 2024, which resulted in the best feed conversion ratio. Fat content was lower in BT 2024. Assessing the sex within each program, males exhibited superior performance, carcass weight, and body composition, whereas females showed higher breast yield. Economic analysis indicated that BT 2024 achieved the highest net revenue due to lower feeding cost per kilogram of ADG, despite BT 2017 showing the greatest gross revenue. In conclusion, BT 2024 demonstrates superior performance and economic efficiency, indicating the importance of continuously updating nutritional recommendations.