Effects of Dietary Furazolidone on the Performance of Broiler Chicks under Sudan Conditions

The present study was conducted to assess the effects of Furazolidone incorporation in broiler feeds under Sudan Conditions. A total of 144 one-day old non sexed chicks of Lohmann breed were used. Experimental chicks were distributed randomly into 4 treatments, each with three replicates (36 birds/treatment and 12 birds/pen as replicate).Four diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous, supplemented with graded levels of furazolidone (0,100, 200, 300 mg/kg feed). Traits studied were feed intake (weight gain), body weight and feed conversion ratio. Results revealed that body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were not significantly at (P ?0.05) affected by different levels of Furazolidone. Final body weights at slaughter age (7 weeks) was in the range of 1592±45.9- 1706±45.9 g. Weekly weight gain was highest in the fifth week (322-391 g/ day). Average weekly feed intake increased with the advance in age and it approach 100 g in the seventh week of age. Total feed conversion ratio was in the range of 2.24±0.05-2.34±0.05.It is concluded that Furazolidone has neither positive nor negative effects on the performance of broiler chicks. It is suggested that this drug can be used in poultry farms were the hygienic and managerial conditions were poor.