Growth, Performance and Carcass Yield of Broilers Fed Standard and Low Protein Feeds with Inclusion of Dietary Crude Testosterone

Abstract

Uses of exogenous growth a promoter are safe, improve performance and reduce production costs in poultry business. Our objectives were to evaluate the influence of dietary crude testosterone (CTE) inclusion on growth, performance and carcass yield of broilers fed standard-and low-protein diets. One hundred and eighty day-old Marshall strain of broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six treatments; T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6. T1 served as control (for standard-protein diet (SPD)) without CTE. T2 were fed SPD with CTE inclusion for 8 weeks. T3 were fed SPD with inclusion of CTE during the finisher phase only (4 weeks). T4 was control for low-protein diet (LPD) without CTE inclusion for 8 weeks. T5 were fed LPD with CTE inclusion for 8 weeks and T6 were fed LPD with the inclusion of CTE at the finisher phase only. Birds had ad libitum access to feed, water, and routine medications were administered. Feed intake, water intake, feed conversion ratio, body weight gain including carcass yield were measured and analyzed according to procedures of SAS. The results of the experiment showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in all parameters measured except mortality, thigh, drumstick, proventriculus, neck and gizzard. However, birds on T2 performed best by attaining a live weight of 2098.00 g at 8 weeks and a FCR of 2.07. Profit per bird was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced. Therefore, inclusion of CTE as growth promoter in commercial broiler production with low-protein diet can be adopted for profitable broiler production.