Influence of Stocking Density and Feed Pellet Quality on Heat Stressed Broilers from 6 to 8 Weeks of Age

Experimentation examined the advantages of decreased pen stocking density of male broilers reared in a summer environment from 6 to 8 weeks of age while receiving either a whole pellet or crumbed feed. Whole pellets led to improved body weight gain as did reduced stocking density; however, mortality due to sudden death syndrome increased when both advantages were combined. Neither treatment significantly affected feed conversion. Males fed pellets had chilled carcasses with increased abdominal fat, whereas amounts of fillets and tenders were similar to those given crumbs. Conversely, expanding the area available for each bird enabled improved recovery of fillets and tenders without altering abdominal fat. Light reflectance of fillets measured 48 h post-mortem revealed a higher L* (lightness) and lower a* (redness) with birds that had received pellets than crumbs, whereas reduced stocking density increased b* (yellowness) values without altering L* and a*. Improving the stability of pelleted feed and reducing pen stocking density enhanced the overall production of heat stressed broilers, but each factor did so in an independent and different manner.