EFFECT OF FEED SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF SONALI CHICKEN IN HAOR AREAS OF SYLHET

Abstract

The research work was carried out on performance of sonali chicken through feed supplementation under scavenging condition at Haluagram village in Sunamganj district of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Hundred sonali hens (♂Rhode Island Red x ♀ Fayoumi) were distributed among 20 farmers at 15 weeks of age. Four different treatments were given in four different level of feed supplementation of rice. In each treatment consist of five farmers. Control (T0) was no supplementary feed, treatment 1 (T1) was 30 g supplementary feed, treatment 2 (T2) was 60 g supplementary feed, treatment 3 (T3) was 100 g supplementary feed with scavenging. Body weight and weight gain were significantly higher in T3 than the others. Similarly total body weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 treatments and lower in T0. Again, Significant differences (P<0.05) were found in body weight at 34 weeks. In laying period body weight was significantly higher in T3 than the other treatments and lowest in T1. In case of feed conversion ratio was no significant differences among the different treatments. The egg production was no significant differences among the different treatments. Though the egg production of control group was also lower. The egg weight was significantly higher in T3 than other treatments and the lowest value in T0. But similar egg weights were found between T1 and T3. High mortality percentage was found in T0 but lower in T1 during growing period. But similar mortality percentage were T2 and T3. During study period the laying was higher mortality percentage in T2 and lower was T1 and T3. The farmers were more benefited by the 30g supplementation compare to the others. Present results also indicate that at least 30 g of available feed supplementation needed for the scavenging crossbred birds for viable egg production, good feed conversion ratio and more profitable, because the scavenging feed is also dependent on available feed resources around the farmer’s house of hoar areas.