Performance

Performance variables (AW, WG, mean feed intake, feed conversion, and productive viability) were assessed at 7, 21, 35, and 42 d of age by weighing broiler chickens, diets, and the number and weight of dead broilers.

The AW was obtained at the end of each experimental phase by dividing the total broiler weight of the pen by the number of animals, WG was calculated by the difference between the final and initial weight of animals, and feed intake by the difference between the weight of the offered diet and the leftover of each period, divided by the number of animals in the period. Feed conversion was obtained from the ratio between feed intake and broiler WG. Both feed intake and feed conversion were corrected for mortality, according to Sakomura and Rostagno (2016). Productive viability was calculated as a percentage of surviving animals in relation to the initial number of housed animals.