AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE SBA

Name: Adaya Woods

Student registration #:

School: Signal Hill Secondary School

Topic: Rearing broiler chicks with and without light

Subject: Agricultural Science

Project start date: 16th April 2024

Project end date: 3rd June 2024

 Introduction
The broiler is defined as any chicken bred and raised, particularly for meat production. ( Gallus
gallus domesticus). The typical broilers have yellowish skin and white feathers. Broilers are the chickens
that are 7-8 weeks of age and raised for meat. Another common name for the broilers is ‘broiler-fryer.’

Broiler meat is a very good source of protein and does not contain high levels of saturated fat like
other popular sources of animal protein such as mutton and beef. In Trinidad and Tobago consumers
spend 1.2 billion each year on broiler meat. (douglas 2017)

Rearing broiler chicken can be a very good source of income for many farmers. Broilers are usually
sold as live birds or dressed carcasses. (weever at el. 1998)

raising meat chickens such as broilers will require broiler varieties of chicken feed that come in 3
basic forms – starter, grower, and finisher. Broiler varieties of chicken feed are dense in protein, which
encourages fast growth. On average, a broiler chicken will consume approximately 1 pound of feed per
week. (https://www.freenutritionfacts.com/broiler-chicken/)

Generally, there are three main systems of rearing broilers: extensive or free- rang system, semi-
intensive system or run system, and intensive or deep litter system. At signal hill secondary school, the
intensive / deep litter system is used. This experiment seeks to determine if broiler chicks with light
weighs more than broiler chicks without light.

Problem statement

The response of rearing broilers with or without light at Signal Hill Secondary School is not known.

Hypothesis

Light affects broiler weight gain.

Aim

To determine the effect of light on weight gain in broilers and so determine the optimum lighting for
broiler birds at Signal Hill Secondary school.
Methodology

 Materials

36 broilers chicks, starter feed, finisher feed, electrolyte, saw dust,

 Tools and Equipment

Light bulb, scale, feeders, waterers, buckets, shovel, broom, garden hose.

Experiment Design

This investigation was conducted in the poultry pen at Signal Hill Secondary School during the period
16th April to the 3rd June 2024.

Thirty-six one day old broiler chicks were reared in a brooder for seven weeks. After brooding the
poultry pen was divided into two sections labelled section C and section T. Section C was the controlled
section (without light) and section T was the treatment center (with light).

Data collection

Over the period the following data was recorded in tables and used to plot graphs where appropriate

Broiler livability

The number of surviving broilers were recorded each week until the end of the experiment.

Average feed consumption per bird per week

The feed was weighed prior to filling the feeders and the weight of feed given each week was recorded
until the end of the experiment. Average feed consumption was calculated as follows:

Average feed consumption/bird/week = weakly feed consumption (8lb)

Number of birds (36lb)

Average feed consumption = 4.5lb

Broiler live weight

After each week the number of surviving broilers were recorded until the end of the experiment

Feed conservation ratio

FCR for each bird was calculated using the following formula

Feed Conversion Ratio = weekly feed intake (kg)

number of birds

Other observations

The broilers were closely observed throughout the investigation and all other observations were
recorded

Broiler Production Practices

Spacing

0.09m2 (ift2)

A spacing of 26 x 37 was allowed for each bird in the treatment section and in the control.

Housing

Fluorescent lights were provided at nights to enable the birds to feed continuously.

Nutrition

The growing birds were fed starter feed for up to four weeks. During the last three days of the fourth
week, finisher feed was gradually introduced by mixing it with starter feed in increasing amounts. The
birds had access to clean, fresh water at all times.
 Figure 1: filling the feeder with starter feed

Litter Management

The litter was turned regularly using a rake, and all caked and/or wet litter was removed and replaced
with clean wood shavings. The litter that was removed was placed in a compost heap.

Figure 2: turning litter

Health management

Feeders and waters were cleaned and sanitized regularly.

Figure 3: cleaning of chicken waterer

Sale of birds

At the end of the seven weeks, the birds were ready for market. They were sold as dressed birds. They
were caught, weighed and their weights were recorded.

Figure 4: weighing birds

Results

Broiler livability

Table 1 shows the number of broilers that survived over the trial period. Two birds died in both the
treatment and control section of the pen between the first and second week.

Table 1: livability of birds over the experimental period

Number of broilers survived

Time (weeks) light section without section

1 17 17

2 17 17

3 16 16

4 16 16

5 16 16

6 16 16

7 16 16
Feed conversion

Table 2 shows the average weekly feed consumption of birds reared in the treatment and control section
of the pen. The average weekly feed consumption per bird increased from 692g to 1,278g for both
treated and control section.

Table 2: average feed consumption/ bird over the experimental period

Average feed consumption per bird (g)

Time Treatm Control
(weeks) ent section
section (g)
(g)
3 692 692
4 990 990
5 1112 1112
6 1255 1255
7 1298 1298
Total 5939 5939
average
feed
consum
ption/b
ird

Figure 4 shows that in both the treatment and control sections of the pen, average broiler feed
consumption increased throughout the investigative period and displayed a similar pattern. Initially, from
week 3 to week 4 feed consumption increased rapidly; then from weeks 5-7 feed consumption continued
to increased but at a reduced rate.
 Times (weeks)

Figure 4: average weekly feed consumption/ bird

Broiler live weight

Table 3 shows that as the birds got older their average weight increased reaching a maximum of
2800g/bird and 2795g/.

Table 3: average live weight/bird over the experimental period

Time (weeks) Treatment

Average section
weight (g) Control section
3 2450 2320
4 3300 3200
5 4820 5100
6 6120 6120
7 5724 5720
 Time (weekly)

Figure 5: average live weight

Feed conversion ratio (FCR)

Table 4 shows that as the birds got older FCR increased. At the start of the experiment, the birds in both
the treatment and control sections had the same F.C.R.

Table 4: broiler feed conversion ratio over the experimental period

Feed conversion ratio

Time (weeks) Treatment section Control section
3 0.2 0.2
4 0.3 0.3
5 0.3 0.3
6 0.99 0.5
7 0.99 0.99
Overall

Figure 6 shows that birds reared in the treatment and control sections of the pen had the same FCR
trends. Initially, the FCR at week 1 was 0.2 while the FCR at week 2-3 was 0.2, which increased slowly to
approximately 0.5 - 0.99 by week 6, there after it went to 0.99 in the treatment and 0.99 in the control
section.

Figure 6: Feed conversion ratio

Discussion
Broiler livability

Two birds died in both treatment and controlled section during the first 2 weeks of this experiment.
“Chicks are very frail, especially during the first few weeks of their life. Hence, it is imperative to have
sound management to keep your flock healthy.” ( https://www.poultry.care). This was probably due to
the fact that they were young and probably gotten a virus or bacteria and being as they were young and
weak they could have been trampled on.

Feed consumption
In both the control and treatment centre the birds ate approximately the same amount of feed and
displayed different feed pattern intake. “Food is the complex organic material used by farm animal for:
energy, growth, repairs, regulation of body function, some form of production, e.g., milk, eggs,
production” (Sahadeo Ragoonanan 1991). The chickens in the control centre (without light) ate only
during the day and the chickens in the treatment centre (with light) ate constantly.

Broiler live weight

In both the treatment and control section, the broiler birds displayed similar live weight gain patterns
and by the end of the experiment at seven weeks, the average weight of the birds were approximately
the same. “Broilers feed heavily, grow quickly and gain weight rapidly” (Sahadeo Ragoonanan 1991). In
the control centre the average weight of the birds were 5720g in the 7th week while in the 7th week of the
treatment center the average weight gain was 5724g. The results indicated that there wasn’t much of a
difference between broilers grown with light and without light.

Feed conversion ratio (FCR)

At week 3, 4 ,5 and 7 the FCR for the birds in the treatment section was the same as the FCR for

Those in the control section. In week 6 the FCR varied.

Conclusion, limitations and recommendation

Conclusion

It can be observed that there wasn’t a difference. The chicks with light ate feed whole day and night
constantly and gained weight. The chicks without the light only ate during the day. After 7pm the place
was dark so they didn’t eat nor drink water in the night so they just layed down and gained weight,
because they couldn’t see after 7pm. The chickens with light slept less than the ones without light.
Recommendations

Based on this investigation the results of this investigation, broiler chickens can be grown with or without
light because there isn’t much of a difference. If someone wants a slight difference in size they can grow
the broilers with light

Limitations

Some limitations for this experiment are:

1. The experiment wasn’t done during a specific time of the year and didn’t take season
into accountability
2. The results could have been affected by varying environmental conditions due to
inappropriate trial design.

References

Poultry Farm Management Software: Poultry ERP Software for ... Poultry Farm Management Software

https://www.poultry.care.

(Sahadeo Ragoonanan 1991).

(douglas 2017)
( Gallus gallus domesticus).

(weever at el. 1998)

https://www.freenutritionfacts.com/broiler-chicken/
Cost analysis
A cost analysis was done on broilers reared in the treatment section which consisted of 16 birds. These
birds were reared with light.

Complete budget

The section comprises a complete budget. It includes the projected income, projected expenditure and
projected profit/loss.

Projected income

Table 5 shows that the projected income for this project as $655.20 from the intended sale of 12 broiler
birds sold at $20 per kg live weight with a projected average weight of 2.73kg each.

Table 5: projected income for the broiler reared at signal hill second.2.

The estimated expenditure for this project is $569.50

Item Quantity Unit cost ($) Total cost ($)

Broiler chicks 18 10.00 180.00
Broiler starter ½ bag 240.00 120.00
Broiler finisher 1 bag 225.00 225.00
Sawdust 2 pack 30.00 60.00
Electrolyte 1 pack 10.00 10.00
Light bulb 1 bulb 4.50 4.50
Total projected expenditure ($) 599.50

Projected profit/loss

The projected profit/loss was calculated using the formula below:

Projected profit/loss = projected income – projected expenditure

= $1,536 - $599.50
 = $936.5

Projected profit/loss = $936.5

In this broiler project we expect to make a profit of $936.5 from the sale of 16 live broiler birds.

Actual income- expenditure statement

This section comprises the actual income, actual expenditure and the actual profit/loss

Actual income

The actual income earned for this project was $2,048

Table 7: actual income for broiler reared at signal hill secondary school

Items Quantity Unit cost ($) Total cost ($)

16 broiler birds 128lbs live weight $16.00 per lb live 2,048
weighing an average of weight
8lbs
Total income 2,048

Actual expenditure

The actual expenditure for this project was $545

Table 8: actual expenditure for broiler reared at signal hill secondary school

Item Quantity Unit cost ($) Total cost ($)

Broiler chicks 18 10.00 180
Broiler starter ½ 240.00 120.0
Broiler finisher 2 bag 225.00 450.00
Electrolyte 1 pack 10.00 10.00
 Sawdust 1 bag 30.00 30.00
Total project expenditure $750

Actual profit/loss

In the project we made a profit of $1,503

Actual profit/loss = total income – total expenditure

= $ 2,048 – 750

= $ 1,298

Actual profit = $ 1,298

Comparison of projected and actual income, expenditure and profit/loss

This section compares the projected and actual income, expenditure and profit/loss for broiler reared at
Signal Hill Secondary School.

Table 9: comparison of projected and actual income, expenditure and profit/loss for broiler reared at
Signal Hill Secondary School.

Projected ($) Actual ($) Difference between

projected and actual
($)
Income 1,536 2,048 512
Expenditure 599.50 770 170.5
Profit/loss 936.5 1,298 361.5

The actual income for this project was 1,278 which was $512 more than what was projected
in the budget. The reason for this profit was because the projected quantity was 32lbs less than the
actual quantity, therefore more pounds of chicken was sold and more money was made.

The actual expenditure for this project was $770 which was $170.50 more than projected.
More money was actually spent on an extra bag of finisher while only one bag of finisher was
anticipated.
 This activity resulted in a profit of 1,293 which was 361.5 more than expected.

Conclusion

Selling broilers as dressed carcasses is profitable, especially during periods where market prices are high.

Recommendation

In order to keep up profits in the future the following is recommended:

1. Review markets trends to take advantage of when market prices are high.
2. After birds are sold compose litter and sell as manure
3. Sell the birds as dressed birds to ensure an additional income through value added activities are
earned.