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Poult Sci 2007. 86:1800-1804
© 2007 Poultry Science Association
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PRODUCTION, MODELING, AND EDUCATION

The Effect of Stocking Density on Growth Performance and Average Cost in Partridge Rearing (Alectoris graeca)

A. Günlü1, K. Kirikçi, O. Çetin and M. Garip

Department of Animal Science, Veterinary Faculty, University of Selçuk, 42031 Konya, Turkey

1 Corresponding author: agunlu{at}selcuk.edu.tr


   ABSTRACT
TOP
 ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
In this study, stocking density and economic evaluation of partridge rearing was investigated. Experimental design was constructed as 576.9 cm2/chick (group I), 384.6 cm2/chick (group II), 288.5 cm2/chick (group III), and 230.8 cm2/chick (group IV). Live weights of the first, second, third, and fourth groups at 12 wk of age were determined as 376.46, 367.95, 371.07, and 358.80 g, respectively. Additive feed consumption and feed conversion ratio of the groups were determined as 1,781.74 g and 4.93, 1,805.13 g and 5.13, 1,830.51 g and 5.15, and 1,720.09 g and 5.02, respectively. Total mortality rates of the groups at the end of the feeding time were determined as 3.5, 3.75, 6.75, and 13.00%, respectively (P < 0.05). As a result, it was concluded that rearing in 288.5 cm2/chick was suitable according to live weights of partridges, feed conversion ratio, and mortality rates. Also, it was concluded that decreasing costs and increasing profitability in partridge rearing could be achieved.

Key Words: partridge • stocking density • growth performance • cost


   INTRODUCTION
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Partridge is the common name of the birds classified as alectoris and perdix of the Phasianide family (Turan, 1990; Özcelik, 1995). The most common partridges are red legged with the names Alectoris chukar, A. graeca, A. rufa, A. magna, and A. barbary (Çetin and Kirikçi, 2000). Red-legged partridges are the kind that is intensively bred.

It is becoming increasingly popular to raise partridges for hunting or conservation areas and for sale to the gourmet food markets. Birds raised for meat must attain marketable weight as early as possible. Although partridges have been raised domestically for approximately 20 yr in Turkey, they are still wild birds compared with other domesticated poultry. There are a lot of papers on the intensive rearing of these birds (Hermes et al., 1984; Kirikçi et al., 1999; Çetin, 2000). It is reported that mature live weights of males and females are 500 to 650 g and 400 to 450 g, respectively (Çetin and Kinkçi, 2000).

Optimal fattening period in partridges has been reported as 10 to 12 wk of age by Kirikçi et al. (1999). In the same research, hatching weight was reported as 14.22 g, and live weights of 10 to 12 wk were reported as 307.29 and 335.58 g, respectively, and additive feed consumption at 12 wk of age was reported as 1,640.37 g. After 12 wk of fattening, live weight, additive feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio were reported as 408.57 to 425.50 g; 1,249.45 to 1,582.27 g, and 3.16 to 3.84, respectively. In another report by Arslan et al. (2001b), partridges were fed 4 different rations, which had 16, 20, 24, and 28% CP contents for a 9-wk period. In the first group, live weight, additive feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio were 282.02 g, 700.29 g, and 4.52, respectively. In the second group, these data were found as 333.38 g, 694.24 g, and 3.95. For third group, the values were 357.75 g, 710.23 g, and 3.71. In the fourth group, the data were reported as 372.01 g, 596.68 g, and 3.04, respectively. The live weight and feed consumption values of the control and experimental groups fed with a diet containing enzynes for 12 wk of fattening periods (Arslan et al., 2001a) were reported as 421.57 to 439.77 g and 1,463.79 to 1,483.57 g, respectively.

The effects of stock density on feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, and carcass characteristics were investigated in different poultry species (Cain et al., 1984; Shanawany, 1988; Sengül et al., 2000). The comfort provided by the optimal stock density affects the health and the performance of the animals in a positive way, whereas having more animals than the optimal stock density per unit space affects animal comfort and performance in a negative way similar to having fewer animals than needed does to the company’s profitability. Cain et al. (1984), in a study about pheasants categorized in the same family with the partridges, reported that 190, 390, and 740 cm2/ pheasant stock density has no effect on fattening performance; however, if space per animal is reduced, the frequency of cannibalism increases. Optimal stock density of partridge rearing has been recommended as 600 cm2/ partridge by Çetin and Kirikçi (2000).

In the literature review, sufficient amount of knowledge related to economic aspects of partridge rearing could not be reached. But there is quite a lot of research about economic evaluation of broiler rearing (Pandey and Tewari, 1985; Lance, 1990, Sakarya, 1990, Petek, 1999). In broiler rearing, the most important expenditure factor was reported as feeding expenditure (45.64 to 64.11), and following expenditure factor was reported as chick costs (19.63 to 31.85). In these studies, the output/input ratio denoting the products by means of the inputs used through the yielding process (in other words, the index screening how economical the process is) has been reported between 1.096 to 1.26 by Sakarya (1990) and Petek (1999).

There is a consensus that fattening time should be 10 to 12 wk of age. However, there is no study of what the optimal stock density in partridge fattening should be to get economic productivity. In this study, the aim was to investigate optimal stock density in partridge rearing and also to calculate the cost of partridge fattening.


   MATERIALS AND METHODS
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Birds and Husbandry
Partridge chicks obtained from Veterinary Faculty Research and Application Farm were used for this research. In total, 728 chicks were hatched in mid-June from a random production in this study.

Experimental design was constructed as group I (576.9 cm2/chick), group II (384.6 cm2/chick), group III (288.5 cm2/chick), and group IV (230.8 cm2/chick). Each treatment was replicated 4 times. After hatching chicks were weighed and were located in 2 rooms (4 x 4 m) having 8 cages in each room. There were 104 chicks in group I (26 x 4), 156 chicks in group II (39 x 4), 208 chicks in group III (52 x 4), and 260 chicks (65 x 4) in group IV (65 x 4).

The chicks were heated with spotlights at 32°C in the first week, and then temperature was decreased 2 to 3°C per week. Heating process was ended after 4 wk. After housing, water including 5% sugar was given to chicks on the first day. The chicks were fed ad libitum for 5 wk with a ration that included 28.1% CP and 3,200 ME of kcal/kg. The following weeks, chicks were fed with a ration that included 22.5% CP and 3,300 ME of kcal/kg (Özek et al., 2003). Formulations and composition of the starter and grower diets used in this study are given in Table 1Go. The fattening period lasted for 12 wk. Lighting process was applied 24 h/d during the fattening period. Four centimeters length of feeder space per animal and 1 nipple waterer/10 birds were provided in the cages.


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  		Table 1. Composition of the starter and grower diets (%)
 
The chicks were weighed weekly, and weight and feed consumption in the first 4 wk were determined and later were weighed periodically for 14-d periods. Mortality was recorded daily.

In this study, all the expenditures such as the unit partridge chick, feed, labor, energy, veterinary and drug costs, depression costs, repair and maintenance expenditures, water, chick loss, and management costs were taken into consideration. The method mentioned by Açil (1977) is used in calculating the unit cost. The economical ratio of partridge rearing and the proportion between the sale income and the costs were calculated (Aksöz, 1972; Müftüoglu, 1989).

Statistical Methods
Variance analysis has been used for determination of the differences among live weights, additive feed consumption, feed conversion ratios, and to weekly percentages of the mortality rates of the groups. In order to obtain normal distribution, arc sin transformation was applied to raw data of the weekly percentage rate (Yildiz and Bircan, 1991). Importance of the differences among the groups has been determined in number of square centimeters by Duncan’s multiple range test (Petrie and Watson, 1999). Statistical analysis has been made with the package and SPSS for Windows 11.0. Each treatment was replicated 4 times.


   RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
REFERENCES
 
Table 2Go shows the weekly live weight of the groups. Although no differences were observed between the groups in the first 8 wk with respect to live weight, the differences among the groups in wk 10 are significant. In this week, groups I and III are different from groups II and IV (P < 0.05). But, live weights of the groups were similar at the end of the fattening period. Live weights of the groups were similar to the literature review reported by Kirikçi et al. (1999) and Arslan et al. (2001b). In that research, partridges were fed with a ration that included 16, 20, and 24% CP; a similar value of partridges and feed with a ration additive enzyme was reported by Arslan et al. (2001a). But live weights of the partridges in this study were lower than those reported by Çetin (2000) and Arslan et al. (2001b) with a feed ration that included 28% CP.


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  		Table 2. Average live weight of the groups weekly
 
Table 3Go shows the weekly feed consumption of the groups, and Table 4Go shows the weekly additive feed consumption of the groups. As seen in Table 3Go, there were not any differences among the groups with respect to feed consumption of the groups wk 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8, whereas there were important differences among the groups in wk 6, 10, and 12 (P < 0.05). In the study, it was determined that there was not any difference among the groups with respect to additive feed consumption in the first 10 wk (Table 4Go). But there was important difference among the groups with respect to additive feed consumption in wk 12 (P < 0.05).


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  		Table 3. Weekly average feed consumption of the groups
 

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  		Table 4. Weekly average additive feed consumption of the groups
 
Feed consumption values of the groups were significant in wk 6, 10, and 12 (P < 0.05). But, this difference didn’t affect feed conversion value of the groups, except for the feed conversion ratio in wk 10. The difference of feed consumption value in the wk 10 ages can be attributed to live weight gain, and differences in 10 to 12 wk of age can be attributed to stock density. In those weeks, especially partridges in the group IV consumed less feed than the other groups.

It was determined that additive feed consumption per bird in the groups was ranging from 1,720.09 to 1,830.51 g. As seen in Table 4Go, additive feed consumption of the groups was different (P < 0.05). In this week, additive feed consumption of group IV was lower than groups II and III (P < 0.05), and group I was similar to the others. Additive feed consumption value determined in this study is higher than the value reported as 1,640.37 g for 12 wk by Kirikçi et al. (1999) and is similarly reported as 1,302.67 g for 10 wk by Kirikçi et al. (1999). Determined additive feed consumption in this study is higher than the additive feed consumption value reported by Çetin (2000) for wk 10 and 12. This value is also higher than the additive feed consumption of partridges fattened for 9 wk. This result can be attributed to the difference of the fattening time. Additive feed consumption of the groups is also higher than the results reported by Arslan et al. (2001a) for 12-wk fattening periods. This result can be explained with the different composition of the rations. Weekly average feed conversation ratio of the groups is presented in Table 5Go.


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  		Table 5. Weekly average feed conversation ratio of the groups
 
Difference in feed conversion ratio of the groups was found important in wk 10, and feed conversion ratio of the groups was similar to one another in other weeks. Feed conversion of the groups is similar to one another except for wk 10. At the end of the fattening period, feed conversion ratio of groups I, II, III, and IV were calculated as 4.93, 5.13, 5.15, and 5.02, respectively. Difference of the feed conversion value in the 10th week can be explained with the difference of feed consumption value in the 10th week of the partridge. Feed conversion of the groups is lower than the same values reported by Çetin (2000) and also lower than the value reported for partridge fattening with a ration including 20, 24, and 28% CP by Arslan et al. (2001b). But the feed conversion value determined in this study is similar to the value reported by Arslan et al. (2001b) for partridge fattening with 16% CP and also similar to the values calculated concerning the partridges fed with the ration addition of some enzymes and to the feed conversion value determined as 4.99 to 5.35 in another study Arslan et al. (2001a). The difference can be attributed to the raw material of the ration. Weekly mortality rates percentage of the groups is presented in Table 6Go.


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  		Table 6. Cumulative mortality percentage of the groups (%)
 
Cumulative mortality percentages of the groups compared with the starting number were similar in the first 4 wk. But the differences among the groups with respect to mortality rates were determined to be significant in wk 6, 8, 10, and 12 (P < 0.05). Especially, it was determined that mortality rates of group IV had increased. Feather packing might have been a cause of mortality. Mortality rates of the groups I, II, III, and IV at the end of fattening period were determined as 3.50, 3.75, 6.75, and 13.10%, and differences between wk 8 to 12 were important (P < 0.05). When Table 6Go is examined, it can be seen that increasing flock density was the reason for the increase of mortality rates in the groups. Especially, mortality rates in group IV are similar to group III and are higher in groups I and II (P < 0.05). Average mortality for the 0 to 16 wk fattening period of partridges was reported to be 17.9% by Özek et al. (2003). This value is higher than this study. So, it can be said that more density in 288.5 cm2/chick may affect mortality rates of partridge unless some precautions are taken to prevent feather packing.

Taking relative importance of chicks’ expenditure in the total cost into consideration (Table 7Go), it can be said that choosing stock density is very important for profitability and productivity of enterprises. As a matter of fact, Cain et al. (1984) reported that frequency of mortality rates increase when stock density is increased.


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  		Table 7. Average cost of partridge and percentage expenditure (Turkish new liras)1
 
According to the investigated production parameters, it can be said that fattening the partridges in 288.5 cm2/chick is suitable for the purpose of broiler type partridge rearing. This stock density is half of the density reported for partridge rearing by Çetin and Kirikçi (2000).

Average cost of the partridges was presented in Table 7Go. At the end of the fattening period, the average cost of partridges was calculated as 5.07 Turkish new liras in a pen including 620 live partridges at the end of the research. It was seen from the related table that the most important expenditure in partridge rearing was chick expenditure, which was 34.71%.

In this study, average partridge cost was calculated as 5.07 Turkish new liras in a pen, including 620 partridges, during the 12 wk of fattening period. The highest cost factor in partridge fattening was chick purchase. The other important expenditure factors were feed cost, depression cost, labor cost, and energy cost according to the percentage distribution in total. In the study, average partridge cost was not calculated because main cost factors like feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, and live weight were similar. But it could be said that choosing optimal rearing density in partridge fattening decreases average cost by means of reducing depression cost and mortality rates. Percentage distribution of chick expenditure in partridges is similar to the reported value for broiler fattening, but feed cost percentage is lower (Sakarya, 1990; Petek, 1999).

According to the cost factor, partridge rearing could be very productive and profitable production if integration in partridge rearing could be achieved. It is obvious that expenditure of cost factor would be decreased. This process is a benefit for the producer and the customer. Taking the live partridges at the end of fattening periods and the current sale price into consideration, some economic indexes (for example, output/input ratio rantability factor ratio), were calculated as 1.97 and 0.49, respectively.

In the study, the output/input ratio denoting the products by means of the inputs used through the yielding process (in other words, the index screening how economical the process is) has been reported between 1.09 and 1.26. These values are higher than the values reported for broiler fattening by Sakarya (1990) and Petek (1999). According to the economic index results, it is obvious that partridge fattening could be a good source of income for enterprises. Furthermore, consumers can be presented with new types of products with different tastes and aromas, which increases protein consumption of people. Partridge rearing could increase the tourism income of a country via hunting tourism and could also increase employment.

As a result, it was determined that optimal stock density for broiler type production was 288.5 cm2 per chick. It is possible to reduce average cost via reducing mortality rate and depression cost. Partridge rearing could be done for economic purposes and for some social reasons.


   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 
Selcuk University Research Foundation supported this work.

Received for publication January 29, 2007. Accepted for publication April 16, 2007.


   REFERENCES
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Açil, F. 1977. Calculating of Agricultural Product. A.U. Agriculture Faculty. No: 665. Sark Press, Ankara, Turkey.

Aksöz, I. 1972. Introduction to Agricultural Economics. No. 15:197. ATA. UNI Press, Erzurum, Turkey.

Arslan, C., M. Garip, and F. Inal. 2001a. The effects of enzyme supplementation of wheat and corn based ration on growth performance and carcass characteristics of partridge. J. Poult. Res. 3:42–46.

Arslan, C., M. Garip, A. Yilmaz, and K. Kirikçi. 2001b. The growth performance of Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca) fed the diets with different protein level. Vet. Bil. Derg. 17:127–130.

Cain, J. R., J. M. Weber, T. A. Lockamy, and C. R. Crager. 1984. Grower diets and bird density effects on growth and cannibalism in ring necked pheasants. Poult. Sci. 63:450–457.[ISI][Medline]

Çetin, O. 2000. Fattening performance and carcass characteristics of rock partridges (A. greaca) at different ages. J. Poult. Res. 2:41–44.

Çetin, O., and K. Kirikçi. 2000. Alternative Poultry Raising. Pheasant-Chukar. Selcuk Univ. Found. Press, Konya, Turkey.

Hermes, J. C., A. E. Woodard, P. Vohra, and R. L. Snyder. 1984. Different feeding regimes for growing red legged partridges. Feedstuff 16:27–28.

Kirikçi, K., C. Tepeli, O. Çetin, A. Günlü, and A. Yilmaz. 1999. Some production characteristics of Rock Partridges (A. graeca) under different sheltering and lighting conditions. Vet. Bil. Derg. 15:15–22.

Lance, G. C. 1990. Economic evaluation of farm efficiency rates for integrated broiler and contract grower operations in Georgia by type of housing systems. Poult. Sci. 69:554–562.[ISI]

Müftüoglu, T. 1989. Economics. Turhan Press, Ankara, Turkey.

Özcelik, M. 1995. World of birds. Sci. Technol. 328:66–73.

Özek, K., O. Yazgan, and Y. Bahtiyarca. 2003. Effects of dietary protein and energy concentrations on performance and carcase characteristics of Chukar Partridges (Alectoris chukar) raised in captivity. Br. Poult. Sci. 3:419–426.

Pandey, N. K., and S. K. Tewari. 1985. Economics of commercial poultry enterprises. Ind. J. Poult. Sci. 20:321–325.

Petek, M. 1999. The production parameters and economic efficiencies of different genotypes in broiler enterprises in Bursa province and its near vicinity. J. Lalahan Livest. Res. Inst. 39:61–72.

Petrie, A., and P. Watson. 1999. Statistics for Veterinary and Animal Science. Blackwell Sci. Ltd., Malden, MA.

Sakarya, E. 1990. Productivity and profitability analysis of broiler enterprises in Ankara province. Ankara Univ. Vet. Fak. Derg. 37:375–398.

Sengül, T., A. Yildiz, and Y. Konca. 2000. Effect of stocking density on the growth performance and carcass characteristics in bronze Turkey. J. Poult. Res. 2:33–39.

Shanawany, M. M. 1988. Broiler performance under high stocking densities. Br. Poult. Sci. 29:43–52.[ISI][Medline]

Turan, N. 1990. Game Birds of Turkey. Forestry Ministry Press, Ankara, Turkey.

Yildiz, N., and H. Bircan. 1991. Research and Methods. No. 57. Atatürk Univ. Press, Erzurum, Turkey.





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