2020 SCIENCELINE  
Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research  
Volume 10, Issue 1: 36-40; January 25, 2020  
ISSN 2228-7701  
EFFECT OF PHASE FEEDING ON BROILER PERFORMANCE  
  
Tamador A. ALGAM1 , Rashid H. OSMAN 2, Wafaa Babiker ZOMRAWI3 and Mojahid A. ABDALHAG1  
1Faculty of Agricultural Technology & Fish Science, Al Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan  
2faculty of Animal Production, West Kordofan University, El Nuhud, Sudan  
3Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Bakht Elruda, Sudan  
Email: tamaraalgam@yahoo.com;  
: 0000-0002-9491-6399  
Supporting Information  
ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to assess the effects of phase feeding on growth performance of broiler  
chicks. The experimental work consisted of a 7-week trial feeding, in which three different feeding  
programme. Three experimental diets formulated to contain different levels of metabolizable energy (ME) and  
crude protein (CP); namely a broiler starter diet containing approximately 3072 Kcal ME/kg and 23.9% crude  
protein, a grower diet containing 3118 Kcal ME/Kg and 21.8% crude protein, and a finisher diet containing  
3200 Kcal ME/kg and 18% crude protein. The results diets not reveal any significant differences in productive  
parameters, but indicated marked trends in differences among the experimental treatment. These differences  
showed that the highest feed consumption and live weight gain were attained by the group of birds fed the  
starter diet throughout the experimental period. The starter diet followed by the finisher diet for four weeks  
resulted in the lowest total feed consumption, reasonably high body weight gain, lowest feed conversion ratio  
and highest dressing percentage. It can, however, be considered under the conditions of the present  
experiment that the three experimental feeding programmes supported similar productive performance of  
broiler, indicating a slight economic advantage of feeding the starter diet followed by the finisher diet.  
Keywords: Broiler chicken, Growth performance, Phase feeding  
INTRODUCTION  
Feed constitutes approximately 60-70%of total broiler production costs (Saveewonlop, 2019). The broiler industry has  
been developed into the most efficient animal production sector. This development has been brought about through  
development and advancement of research in the fields of poultry science and related subjects. The most significant of  
these developments were in the fields of genetics and nutrition, which lead to the breeding of commercial broiler chicks  
capable of rapid growth and efficient utilization of feed (Anonymous 2013; Mehmood et al., 2014). Since feed cost  
constitutes the major cost item of producing broiler meat, considerable research effort was concentrated in improving  
nutrition and efficiency of feed utilization of the broiler chicks. The broiler chicks are known to be exacting in their nutrient  
requirements for rapid growth and development, and that they need to be supplied with adequate diets capable of  
satisfying these requirements in a utilizable form (Skinner-Noble et al., 2001).  
The nutrient requirements of boiler chicks have been almost precisely established and the capacity of various feed  
ingredients to supply these nutrients has been identified, and consequently the formulations of adequate diets became  
possible. The broiler chick has some extremely high nutrient requirements, particularly during the early stages of its  
growth. The capacity of the digestive system of the chick is very limited during this period, and it became important to  
feed them diets highly concentrated in metabolizable energy and protein of high quality, beside high levels of vitamins  
and essential minerals during the early stages of the growing period. Such diets have been commercially established and  
used world- wide. These high density broiler diets were recommended to be fed as a sole diet for the whole 6-7 weeks  
growing period (Skinner-Noble et al., 2001).  
Further research development indicated that the nutrient requirements of the broiler chicks vary with its  
advancement of growth according to the increase in body weight and nature of growth. The growth curve established that  
young broiler chicks during the first 3-4 weeks of life are at their most active phase of growth, and the nature of growth  
during this period is mostly in the form of tissue protein and very little fat (Skinner-Noble et al., 2001). Accordingly, it has  
been indicated to vary the composition of broiler diets during the growing period according to the actual nutrient  
requirements for the changing nature of growth. In this context, different feeding programmes with varying dietary  
nutrient composition have been developed for the growing broilers as a means for economy of feed and efficient nutrient  
utilization, and ultimate reduction of the cost of feeding. In this respect, different diets of variable nutrients composition  
have been advocated for phase feeding of broilers, based on increasing the energy content of the diet and reducing its  
crude protein content with the advancement of age (Roush et al. 2004). It is intended in this study to assess the effect of  
phase feeding using different feeding programmes, on the production performance and carcass yield of broilers.  
36  
Citation: Algam TA, Osman RH, Zomrawi WB and Abdalhag MA (2020). Effect of phase feeding on broiler performance Online J. Anim. Feed Res., 10(1): 36-40.  
www.ojafr.ir  
MATERIALS AND METHODS  
Experimental diets  
Three types of starter, grower and finisher broiler diets were formulated from the local feed ingredients and  
imported super concentrate which used as complement dietary protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. The  
composition of the super concentrate was described in table 1. The diets were formulated according to the recommended  
nutrient composition of the diets commonly used in phase feeding of broiler chicks. In this respect, the starter diet was  
relatively high in metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein content, which were reduced in the grower diet, the protein  
content was further reduced in the finisher diet with increasing the ME content. The formulation of the experimental diets  
is shown in table 2. The calculated and proximate analyses were shown in tables 3 and 4, respectively. Each diet was  
analyzed for its content of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and crude fiber according to the procedure of AOAC  
(1980) for proximate analysis. The metabolizable energy (ME) content of the diets were calculated according to the  
equation of Lodhi (1976) based on the determined proximate analyses values of the diets. The equation is as fallow:  
M.E (Kcal kg-1= (1.549+0.102(CP) +0.275(EE)+0.148(N.F.E)-0.034(C.F) X239.  
The calculated analyses of the diets were made according to the tables of NRC (1994) for ingredients composition.  
Table 1 - The chemical composition of the super concentrate used in the formulation of the experimental diets  
(LNB concentrate 5%)  
Analysis  
Min.  
40.00  
2100  
2.00  
Crude protein %  
Metabolizable Energy kcal/kg  
Crude fiber %  
Calcium %  
Phosphorus total %  
Lysine %  
10.00  
4.00  
12.00  
3.00  
Methionine %  
Methionine + Cysteine %  
3.20  
Table 2 - The formulation of the experimental diets (percent as fed).  
Experimental diets  
Starter  
Grower  
Finisher  
Ingredient  
Sorghum  
60.0  
18.0  
14.85  
5.0  
1.5  
0.3  
0.1  
0.25  
-
67  
14  
11.8  
5
1.5  
0.3  
0.15  
0.25  
-
76.41  
10  
6
5
1.5  
Groundnut meal  
Sesame meal  
Super-concentrate  
Crushed oyster shell  
Common salt  
Methionine  
Lysine  
Vegetable oil  
Total  
0.3  
0.21  
0.25  
0.33  
100.0  
100.0  
100.0  
Table 3 - The calculated analyses of the experimental diets (percent as fed)  
Experimental diets  
Starter  
Grower  
Finisher  
Items  
Metabolizable energy (kcal/kg)  
Crude protein  
Lysine %  
Methionine %  
3072  
23.9  
1.34  
0.60  
1.4  
3118  
21.8  
1.25  
0.60  
1.3  
3200  
18.9  
1.20  
0.59  
1.2  
Calcium %  
Av. Phosphorus %  
0.69  
1.39  
0.313  
Table 4 - Proximate analysis of the experimental diets (percent)  
Experimental diets  
Starter  
Grower  
Finisher  
Items  
Dry matter %  
Crude protein %  
Crude fiber %  
Ash %  
9486  
22.25  
6.19  
8.57  
6.94  
90.45  
20.98  
6.02  
13.87  
6.45  
93.87  
19.58  
6.03  
6.64  
5.72  
Fat %  
37  
Citation: Algam TA, Osman RH, Zomrawi WB and Abdalhag MA (2020). Effect of phase feeding on broiler performance Online J. Anim. Feed Res., 10(1): 36-40.  
www.ojafr.ir  
Birds and management  
A total of 120 unsexed day-old broiler chicks of commercial strain (Hubbard) were purchased from a local hatchery  
(Coral CO.) The birds were reared on deep litter in an open side house; the experimental house was apportioned in to 9  
pens of equal area (1 × 1 m). The pens were arranged in three rows, each row containing three pens, each pen was  
equipped with a tube feeder and a fountain waterer. Upon arrival, the chicks were immediately given sugar in drinking  
water to reduce the transportation stress. At two weeks of the age the chicks were vaccinated against Newcastle Disease.  
Experimental procedure  
Birds were randomly assigned to the experimental pens at the rate of 10 chicks per pen. The three experimental  
treatments were randomly assigned to each row of pens (block), thus giving a Randomized Complete Block Design  
arrangement. Treatment 1 consisted starter diet from day-old. Birds were fed starter diet for the first two weeks followed  
by the grower diet for 2 weeks and then the finisher diet to the end of the experiment (7 week). Treatment 3 consisted  
starter diet from day old to 3 weeks of age followed by the finisher diet to the end of the experiment. Feed consumption  
and live weight weekly determined for each pen, and mortality was recorded as it occurred. At the end of the experiment  
the birds were fasted overnight except for water. Three birds from each replicate (pen) were randomly selected, wing  
tagged and individually weighed. They were then slaughtered by jugular severing and left for an appropriate time to bleed.  
The birds were eviscerated and hot dressed carcass weight was recorded. The data for weekly feed consumption, live  
weight gain, feed conversion ratio and dressing percentage were collected. The data was analyzed statistically for  
treatment differences by analysis of variance for the randomized complete block design according to Steel et al. (1980).  
RESULT AND DISCUSSION  
Performance results did not show significant differences in total feed consumption, live weight gain or feed conversion  
efficiency among the experimental birds. These results are in line with several reports on the effects of phase feeding of  
broiler chicks by Warren and Emmert (2000); Pope and Emmert (2001); Skinner-Noble et al. (2001); Pope et al. (2002);  
Roush et al. (2004); N. Saveewonlop (2019). They indicated that phase feeding can support similar feed intake growth,  
carcass yield and feed efficiency to that of feeding a single starter diet based on NRC recommendations. Despite the  
insignificant differences in performance among the different feeding programmes, the results revealed certain trends in  
insignificant differences in performance among the experimental feeding programmes. The highest feed intake and live  
weight gain were attained by feeding the single starter diet throughout the experimental period, while feeding the starter  
diet accompanied by the grower and finisher diets resulted in the lowest body weight gain; and feeding the starter diet  
followed by the finisher diet to the end of the experimental period resulted in the lowest feed intake and lowest feed  
conversion ratio. These trends in performance generally follow the pattern of nutrients intake, resulting from the  
differences in feed consumption of the experimental diets. In this respect, the intake of all essential nutrients was highest  
under programme I, where the chicks were fed the nutrient dense starter diet during the whole experimental period. This  
was followed by the birds reared on programme 2, and was least on phase feeding programme 3. No differences in feed  
intake, body weight gain, or feed conversion efficiency were observed among the experimental birds during the three  
weeks starting period. This can be attributed to the fact that all the birds during this period received the same starter diet  
and almost consumed the same amounts of feed and nutrients. The amount of feed consumed during this period was  
only a small fraction of the total feed consumed by the birds over the 7 weeks’ growth period. Consequently, the highest  
amount of feed and nutrients were consumed during the grower and finisher periods, thus having a greater impact on  
body weight gain and feed utilization during the later phases of the growth period. These effects were clearly marked in  
the works of Warren and Emmert (2000), Skinner-Noble et al. (2001), Roush et al. (2004), Tremarin & Sakamoto (2017),  
and Saveewonlop (2019). These workers indicated that body weight and feed conversion were not sensitive to the grower  
diet feeding in a three- diets phase feeding programme.  
Table 5 - Summary table of performance of the experimental birds during 0-7 weeks of age (g/bird/7week)  
Treatments  
1
2
3
SE  
Experimental parameters  
Number of bird/treatment  
Initial body weight (g/bird)  
Total feed consumption  
Final live body weight (g/bird)  
Live body weight gain (g/bird/ 7)  
Feed conversion ratio (g feed/ g)  
Dressing percentage  
30.0  
40.90  
3306.60  
1390.0  
1349.1  
2.45  
30.0  
43.60  
3080.6  
1317.0  
1253.4  
2.45  
30.0  
42.30  
3021.6  
1349.0  
1306.7  
2.31  
-
-
90.68 NS  
95.87 NS  
39.96 NS  
0.055 NS  
2.92 NS  
-- NS  
68.30  
291.80  
69.80  
297  
72.7  
296.1  
Cost of feed consumed (SD)  
Values are means of 30 birds/treatment; NS= not statistically significant, SE= Standard error of means; 1= starter diet; 2= starter diet +  
grower diet + finisher diet; 3= starter diet + finisher diet.  
38  
Citation: Algam TA, Osman RH, Zomrawi WB and Abdalhag MA (2020). Effect of phase feeding on broiler performance Online J. Anim. Feed Res., 10(1): 36-40.  
www.ojafr.ir  
Table 6 - Total nutrients consumption of the experimental birds (g/bird/ 7week)  
Treatments  
1
2
3
Items  
ME Kcal  
Crude protein  
Lysine  
10132  
788  
44  
9575  
669  
38  
9587  
566  
35  
Methionine  
Calcium  
19  
48  
18  
42  
17  
37  
Av. Phosphorus  
11  
10  
9
Values are means of 30 birds/treatment; NS= not statistically significant, SE= Standard error of means; 1= starter diet; 2= starter diet +  
grower diet + finisher diet; 3= starter diet + finisher diet.  
On the other hand, increasing the starter diet feeding period had the strongest effect on increasing body weight and  
decreasing feed conversion ratio; while decreasing the feeding period of the finisher diet increased the body weight and  
decreased the feed conversion ratio. It has also been indicated that broiler performance under phase feeding  
programmes is influenced by the length of the growing period and the proportion of time that the starter, grower and  
finisher diets are fed, as well as the stage of growth at which these diets are introduced. The absence of significant  
differences among the results of the present study indicates that the three tested feeding programmes were capable of  
supporting similar productive performance of broilers. This is irrespective of the marked differences in nutrients intake,  
particularly crude protein and lysine. This, however, did not reflect any differences in the cost of feed consumed under the  
different feeding programmes, due to the unexceptionally high prices of grain sorghum in the particular season, which  
was used at high percentages in the grower and finisher diets this result similar with those reported by Ajighjigh (2018).  
Under normal price conditions, the cost of feeding will be lowest in the programme which consisted of feeding the starter  
diet followed by the finisher diet. The same programme seemed to be more appropriate for supporting broiler production  
in the light of the attained lowest feed consumption, reasonably high live weight gain and lowest feed conversion ratio  
among the experimental treatments.  
CONCLUSIONS  
The absence of significant differences among the results of the present study indicates that the three tested feeding  
programmes were capable of supporting similar productive performance of broilers. This is irrespective of the marked  
differences in nutrients intake, particularly crude protein and lysine. This did not reflect any differences in the cost of feed  
consumed under the different feeding programmes. It can be considered that the conditions of the present experiment  
though limited, reflects the advantage of phase feeding of broiler chicks, particularly the programme of feeding the  
starter diet followed by finisher diet.  
DECLARATIONS  
Corresponding author  
E-mail: tamaraalgam@yahoo.com  
Authors' contributions  
All authors were contributed equally.  
Competing interests  
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.  
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Citation: Algam TA, Osman RH, Zomrawi WB and Abdalhag MA (2020). Effect of phase feeding on broiler performance Online J. Anim. Feed Res., 10(1): 36-40.  
www.ojafr.ir  
 
 
 
 
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Citation: Algam TA, Osman RH, Zomrawi WB and Abdalhag MA (2020). Effect of phase feeding on broiler performance Online J. Anim. Feed Res., 10(1): 36-40.  
www.ojafr.ir