COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND PROFITABILITY OF FOUR BROILER COMMERCIAL STRAINS RAISED IN EGYPT

:The aim of this study was to assess the growth performance and profitability of four broiler strains raised in Egypt to identify which strains were most effective and profitable for broiler production in this region. A total of 24000 one-day-old chicks were separately allocated to 4 strain broiler groups: Cobb-500, Avian-48, Ross-308, and Indian River (IR), of the same age and size were used for the study. Each strain group was reared and housed in separate buildings under the same conditions with free access to feed and water. Each strain represented by 6000 birds, divided into five replicates of 1200 broiler chicks per replicate, and was randomly distributed in a completely randomized design into four groups reared to 42 days of age. Live body weight (LBW) and body weight gain (BWG) were recorded weekly. Also, feed consumption (FC), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and livability (%) were determined. The production efficiency factor (PEF), economic indices, and cost-benefit analysis were calculated to assess the profitability of each studied strain group. The results showed that there are significant differences in growth performance and other traits among the four broiler strains. The findings indicated that the Avian-48 and Cobb-500 strains were the most effective and profitable for broiler production under Egyptian conditions. In addition, the IR strain also showed good growth performance and feed efficiency. In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the performance and profitability of different broiler strains under Egyptian conditions, which can help inform decision-making in broiler production. By selecting the most effective and profitable broiler strains, producers can optimize their operations and potentially increase their profitability.