Changing Time of Feeding Starter, Grower, and Finisher Diets for Broilers 3. Birds Grown to 3.3 kg

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects on live performance and carcass characteristics for male broilers of a commercial high-yield strain subjected to various times of feeding starter, grower, and finisher diets. The birds were grown to 56 days to achieve a target weight of 3.3 kg. Diets were formulated to meet nutrient levels typical of current industry practice. The optimum time of feeding starter diet for birds grown to a target weight of approximately 3.3 kg appears to be no more than 7 days. However, inclusion of finisher diet in the feeding program earlier than 42 days, regardless of the time of feeding starter diet, resulted in a reduction in body weight, a deterioration in feed conversion and calorie utilization, an increase in abdominal fat, and a reduction in breast meat yield. Because of the typical cost differences among starter, grower, and finisher feeds, changing diets at earlier ages may have considerable economic impact.