Feed Efficiency of Pastured Poultry Systems

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Joy L. Chisholm* , David L. Trott , Jeff G. Cox , Catherine E. Zivnuska.
Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor. Annual Meeting, National Council on Undergraduate Research. 2003, Salt Lake City, UT.

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Farmers seeking niche markets are raising chickens in pastured poultry production systems, but few researchers have evaluated the feeding efficiency of these systems. This research compares feed efficiency of broiler chickens raised inside versus chickens raised in day-range systems (free ranging during the day) and in a floorless pen, moved daily to fresh pasture. Access to pasture is hypothesized to reduce feed consumption and improve animal health. Feed trials were conducted in spring of 2001 and 2002, but cold weather affected results. In the current research, each group was fed, ad libitum, a 15% protein ration of cracked corn and poultry crumbles. Each group was divided into two subgroups for replication except the day-range group, which could not be separated. Individual weights were taken on days one, thirteen, and thirty-three of the trial. After thirteen days with zero mortality, inside broilers had an average feed conversion of 2.77 lb feed per lb gain. T-tests showed more efficient feed conversion for pastured pen (2.45 lb feed/gain, p<0.036) and day-range (2.15 lb feed/gain p<0.001). Compared to indoor broilers, day-range broilers consumed 20.9% less feed and pasture pen broilers consumed 6.2% less feed, because of access to forage and insects, which supplemented diet.