Effect of green feed (Lucerne) on the performance of broiler chicks

120 days old chicks were taken in this study. The experiment was conducted for the determination of green feeding effect on the performance of broiler chicks. The investigation was divided into four groups to make easy to this study. For feeding the Lucerne waste as green or fresh, it was collected cleaned, chaffed and served in the containers. Feed Intake, Water Intake; Body Weight and Mortality were observed during experimental period in the four groups of chicks. The data indicated, that total feed intake during experimental period was 8.19, 8.2, 7.91 and 7.65kg in group I, II, III and IV, respectively. The variation in feed consumption between these 4 groups under study was found to be statistically significant at the level of 5%. Like feed intake, the amount of water consumption per chick per day increased with increasing age. It was 20.40, 18.31, 19.85 and 19.30 liter in group I, II, III and IV, respectively. This trend was similar for all groups. The average live weight of the chicks at starting of experiment has been recorded to be 0.18, 0.16, 0.17 and 0.16 kg in group I, II, III and IV, respectively. Similarly, at the V week of age, it was 0.94, 0.98, 0.95 and 0.93kg in respective groups. The statistical analysis revealed that variation in live weight between these 4 groups under study was found to be non significant. The rate of Mortality was calculated and presented. It may be seen that the highest mortality percentage from 1st to 5th week of age was recorded in group I (13.33%), followed by groups II, III and IV, respectively. The statistical analysis indicated that the variation between mortality percentage during the experimental period in different groups was found nonsignificant. The data indicated that the feed conversion ratio in all groups had no definite trends. Feed conversion ratio varied from 2.51, 2.19, 2.32 and 1.99 in I, II, III and IV groups, respectively. In this experiment we found that our second experimental group having more weight and better feed conversion efficiency. On the basis of above results it may be concluded that the performance of broiler chicks were slightly affected by green feeding.