Effect of different choice feeding methods based on whole wheat on performance of male broiler chickens

A total of 480 1-week-old male broiler chicks of a commercial breed (Ross 308) were allocated randomly to four treatment groups. Each treatment group consisted of three replicates each of 40 chicks. Chicks were fed with the standard compound feed (CP: 230 g/kg and ME: 13.19 MJ/kg as fed basis) during the first week. The treatments were (a) control; (b) compound feed and whole wheat mixture (MF; the content of whole wheat in the mixture was 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 g/kg in weeks 2–6, respectively); (c) free choice between compound feed and whole wheat in separate troughs (FCF); (d) standard compound feed (18 h) and whole wheat (6 h) sequentially (SF). FCF increased live weight (LW) and weight gain of chickens when compared to MF and SF (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio of MF was higher than those of control, FCF and SF (P<0.05). Wheat intake was higher in MF than FCF and SF (P<0.05). Carcass weight of chickens in control and FCF were higher than that of MF and SF, and also carcass weight of chickens in SF was higher than that of MF (P<0.05). Full gut weight, abdominal fat, empty gizzard weight and edible inner organs (g/100 g LW) were increased by choice feeding treatments when compared to control (P<0.05). It is concluded that the FCF method can be used effectively with broiler chicks.