The study was conducted to determine the effect of organic acids supplementation on body weight changes, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg production, egg weight and egg quality in laying hens at age between 67 and 74 weeks. A total of 48 Shaver 579 laying hens of 67 weeks age were allotted into 4 groups, each containing 12 hens. The hens were fed basal diet (17% CP and 2800 kcal ME/kg diet) supplemented with 0 (T1), 260 (T2), 520 (T3) and 780 ppm (T4) of organic acid mixture (fumaric acid and salt of butyric, propionic and lactic acids). The results revealed no effect of organic acids supplementation on body weight change and feed intake but improvement of egg production and feed conversion were observed. Organic acids supplementation significantly increased egg production by about 2.26, 8.0 and 9.84% on 260, 520 and 780 ppm respectively when compared with the untreated group (P<0.05). Feed conversion showed a significant (P<0.05) improvement in laying hen groups which fed on the basal diet supplemented with organic acids at 260, 520 and 780 ppm by about 1.85, 8.48 and 7.74% respectively when compared with the control. On the other hand, dietary organic acid had no effect on the average egg weight, while showed a lower percentage of large (P<0.05) and extra large egg (P<0.01) size compared with control group. Body composition parameters were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Inclusion of organic acids improved egg shell thickness (P<0.05) while significantly reduced albumen index (P<0.05). Incorporation of organic acids attributed to significant increase per cent albumen (P<0.01) and significant decrease in yolk per cent (P<0.05). It can be concluded that organic acid supplementation of laying hens diet may improve persistency of lay and feed conversion. From economical point of view, it is concluded that organic acid addition (520 ppm) may result an economic benefit of layer production at older age. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v37i2.9884 BJAS 2008; 37(2): 74-81

A total of 300 day-old Hubbard Classic broiler chicks were reared to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of 2, 3, 4 and 5% of palm oil on feed consumption, growth performance and profitability of broiler. Addition of 4% palm oil in diet found to attribute additive effect on the growth of the bird from 2nd to 4th week of the trial. Broilers of 2 and 3% oil added group attained 1791g and 1777.67g live weight, respectively which was 4% and 3% higher than that of the control. Similar effect of different levels of palm oil was also observed in case of live weight gain. Dietary inclusion of palm oil improved feed consumption and significantly (P<0.05) higher feed consumption was recorded in 4% palm oil group than 5% oil group. From the economic analysis on production cost of broiler, it was found that total cost per broiler was the lowest in control group (Tk. 115.92), which was lower by Tk. 8.23, 7.46, 9.13 and 2.68 than the 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% oil added groups, respectively. Profit earned from each group (Tk/broiler and Tk/kg broiler) was statistically similar (P>0.05). It can be concluded that profitable broiler production might be possible without supplementation of palm oil. Key words: Broiler; Feed Consumption; Growth, Palm oil; Profitability DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v39i1-2.9692 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2010, 39(1&2): 176-182

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The present study was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition of three genotypes of scavenging ducklings (Muscovy, Pekin and Desi White) The ash content was highest in Muscovy followed by Pekin and Desi White throughout the experimental period. Genotypes, feed and interaction between genotypes and feed showed no significant (p>0.05) effect on ash content at 14 th week of age. Genotypes and feed showed significant effect (p<0.01) but the interaction between genotype and feed had no significant effect (p>0.05) on DM and moisture content of duck meat.