Performance of Finisher Broilers Fed Wet Mash with or Without Drinking Water During Wet Season in the Tropics

Abstract: Finisher broilers were fed conventional dry and wet mash with varying amounts of water addition (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 parts of water to 1 part of feed) with and without drinking water. Feed intake was higher (P<0.05) in all wet-fed groups but one than birds that received the conventional dry mash. Live weight gain and carcass yield was better (P<0.05) in all wet-fed groups than dry mash feeding. However, feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was highest in birds that received 1 part of water to 1 part of feed with drinking water, their result is comparable to those on conventional dry mash feeding and significantly (P<0.05) better than other wet-fed groups. No significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in weights of the liver, spleen, intestine, abdominal fat, proventriculus, full-gizzard and caeca. This study recommends 1 part of water to 1 part of feed with drinking water for finisher broilers when raised on wet mash during wet season in the tropics. Key words: Finisher broilers, dry mash, wet mash, water INTRODUCTION advantage on the use of wet mash. Wet mash feeding has been practiced for many decades This study therefore investigated the live performance in backyard poultry keeping using waste food scraps, and carcass characteristics of finisher broilers raised on peelings from cooked yam, and potato and many other conventional dry mash feeding and varying amounts of available materials mixed up to give a sloppy mash. water addition in wet mash feeding with and withou