Influence of season on commercial broiler performance in Assam

Comparative performance of commercial broilers in four different seasons viz. pre-monsoon (March to May), Monsoon (June to September), post-monsoon (October to November) and winter (December to February) were studied for 5 consecutive years (2001–2005). In each season, 450 day old chicks were randomly allocated to 8 pens in open sided broiler house in deep litter to record the live weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, mortality, cost of production, gross profit per broiler and benefit cost ratio up to 6 weeks of age. The season had significant (P<0.05) effect on all the parameters under study. The average live weight gain at 6 weeks of age in post monsoon, monsoon, winter and pre-monsoon were 1616, 1610, 1559 and 1475 g, respectively. Accordingly, gross profit per broiler was significantly higher in post-monsoon and lower in pre-monsoon seasons. It could be concluded that in Assam, post-monsoon season is the best period for commercial broiler raising followed by monsoon, winter and pre-monsoon seasons.