Feed restriction strategies are proven to be effective in increasing the growth performance and carcass parameters of broiler chickens. The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate the effects of feedremoval for three hour time periodon growth performance and carcass parameters of relatively older male broiler chickens. Twenty days old male broiler chickens (n=80) were allocated into 16 floor pens. Birds in eight pens were fed ad libitum while those in other eight pens were fasted for 3 hours per day (13.00-16.00) during 21-42 d experimental period. There was a slight feed intake reduction (P<0.01) due to feed restriction during 21-25 d, but not thereafter. When feed was offered after three hours of deprivation, birds consumed significantly (P<0.01) higher amount of feed within first two hours, compared to the feed intake of ad libitum group during the same time period. Birds fed ad libitum were heavier (P<0.05) on day 42 but not on days 25, 30 and 35. Feed restriction significantly reduced the weight gain between 35-42 d (P <0.01) and the total weight gain (P<0.05) from day 21-42. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) between 30-42 d was significantly (P<0.05) lower under ad libitum feeding, and also overall FCR from 21-42 d was affected by the feeding regimes. Restricted feeding increased the total giblet weight (liver+heart+gizzard) (P<0.10), the carcass weight (P<0.01) and dressing percentage (P<0.05) while reduced (P<0.01) the length of the small intestine relative to carcass weight. Restricted feeding tended to reduce (P<0.10) the percentage of abdominal fat. The results conclude that feed restriction for three hours per day from days 21-42 increased dressing percentage while reducing abdominal fat content of matured male broiler chicken. تفاصيل المقالة

Potential growth of dairy sector is highest and more reliable compared to crop sector, indicating that dairy sector can play vital role to increase income among farmers in rural areas than crop sector in Sri Lanka. Credit and farmer training in management ability have been major concerns of dairy development efforts. Therefore, this study wasconductedto assess the impact of credit and farmer training on small holder dairy sector and to estimate its contribution to farmer’s income. The study was carried out in southern region of Sri Lanka. Purposive sampling approach was adopted and data were collected from 119 farmers through pre-tested structured questionnaire by personnel interview. Twenty one percents of respondents had taken credit and 72% of farmers had received subsidies to develop their dairy production capacity. Almost 97% of farmers had received knowledge for different activities in dairy production and 45% of them had participated for trainings which related to dairy. The milk yield of studied sample had correlation with credit amount (r=0.500, p=0.018), value of subsidy (r=0.350, p=0.003) and extension and training (r=.453, p=.000) which received by farmers. The farmers with higher level knowledge on management practices were acquiring and demanding of credit and farmer training compared to farmers with low knowledge. Further herd size had strong positive correlation with the amount of credit obtained. The results clearly illustrated credit and farmer training in dairy sector could considerably facilitate to increase income of dairy farmers and assists to develop dairy sector in small holder context. تفاصيل المقالة

The aim of the study was to compare the growth performance and carcass quality of layer-type cockerels and broilers reared under identical conditions. A total of 180 one-day-old broiler male (BM), broiler female (BF) and brown layer male (LM) chicks were distributed into 9 floor pens in a completely randomized design, with 3 replicates of 20 birds per experimental unit. The body weights and feed consumption was recorded at weekly intervals. Body weight gains and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. The carcass quality trait was determined at 4th, 6th, 8th, 12th and 16th weeks of age. There was a significant effect FCR (P<0.05) of genotype on body weight and feed intake. The BM and BF showed higher feed consumption and better feed conversion compared to LM for all growing stages (P<0.05). The LM had higher percentage of blood, feather, shank, head and internal organ compared to BM and BF (P<0.05). The BM and BF had significantly higher values for dressing percentage (P<0.05). The LM had least amount of subcutaneous fat in neck, subcutaneous fat in thigh and abdominal fatdespite of slaughtering ages (P<0.05). Genotype had been shown to significantly influence on colour of pectoralismajorand bicepsfemorismuscles. The LM had recorded highest L* for both muscle at 8th week of slaughtering age (P<0.05). The BM and BF had significantly higher a* coordinates for pectoralismajor compare to LM (P<0.05). Moreover, LM had least shear force value (P<0.05). These results suggest that layer males are acceptable for an alternative system of meat production from the aspect of carcass and meat characteristics. تفاصيل المقالة