| dc.description.abstract | The present work was carried out to evaluate the economic performances of native chicken during the period of 0-12 weeks age through improvement of rearing practice, decrease of CP content of starter diet and reduction of starter period. One hundred twenty native chickens were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of 30 chickens each which were further distributed into five subgroups each amounting of 6 chickens as replications. Chickens of group A and B were fed starter diet containing 17-18 % CP for 8 weeks, while group C were fed the same diet but the starter period was reduced from 8 to 4 weeks. Chicken of group D were fed with starter diet containing 14-15 % CP for 8 weeks. After starting period, all groups were fed the same grower diet and chicken of group B, C and D were moved to free range in 15 units of fenced yard and reared semi extensively up to the age of 12 weeks. Parameter measured included: body weigh gain, feed intake, FCR, mortality, variable cost and income. Biological data was analyzed statistically, while economic analysis included: partial budget, marginal, dominance and gross margin analysis. The results of this study indicated that body weigh gain and FCR were found statistically unaffected by rearing practice and reduction of starter period and protein content of starter diet. Economically, reduction of starter period from 8 to 4 weeks and decrease of CP content of starter diet from 17-18 % to 14-15 % could save feed cost of about 21 % and 14 % respectively. Chickens fed starter diet containing 17-18 % for 4 weeks starter period shown the lowest variable cost and net return. The highest net return of about Rp. 1281,O/chicken was shown by chickens fed starter diet containing 17-18 % CP for 8 weeks and reared semi extensively during the grower period of 4 weeks (B). Chickens fed high protein content of starter diet (17-18 % CP) and reared intensively during both starting and growing period (A) was found uneconomic treatment. The results suggest that the production cost of young native chickens could be reduced by reduction of starter period and protein content of starter diet and rearing semi extensively during growing period. The highest net return might be obtained by feeding the young animals with high protein content of starter diet for 8 weeks and rearing semi extensively after starting period | id |
