Performance of broiler chicken under cage and floor systems of management fed differently processed feeds

An experiment was carried out to find out the performance of broiler chicke n fed 3 differently processed feeds namely untreated, UV rays exposed and U V rays microwave exposed under cage and floor systems of management, Eight trials were conducted covering 4 seasons namely hot, Southwest monsoon, Nor theast monsoon and Moderate. A floor space of 450 cm(2) and 900 cm(2) / bir d was allotted in cage and litter systems respectively. For each trial 120, day-old Vencob unsexed chicks belonging to the same hatch were used. They were allotted at random and subjected to control-fed with broiler mash, mas h irradiated with UV rays in the intensity of 80 W/cm(2) at 253.7 nm for 5 min and fed with UV rays irradiated mash processed in microwave power of 12 00 W at 2450 MHZ for 5 min under cage and floor systems respectively. From the results of this study it was inferred that the cage system of rearing c ould be adopted for commercial broiler rearing due to better growth rate, f eed efficiency, survival rate and carcass quality. When cage reared chicks fed with UV rays irradiated mash, it resulted in significantly (P <0.01) hi gher weight gain of 1.738 kg at seventh week of age, with the cost of produ ction of Rs 30.25 +/- 1.5 and the best economy index of 1.8 +/- 0.32.