Broiler marketing decisions and the length of the production cycle are critical when considering productivity and profitability. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different marketing ages on the Ross chickens' growth performance, carcass characteristics, and economic efficiency. A total of 120 one-day-old Ross chicks were received, weighted, and then divided by chance into five treated groups (each with four subgroups and six chicks per subgroup) according to marketing age (D1:33 days; D2: 35 days; D3: 37 days; D4: 39 days and D5: 41 days). Our findings declared that changes in broiler marketing age were associated with highly significant changes in final body weight, body weight gain, average daily gain, relative growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion rate (FCR), feed cost, total cost, total cost per day, total return per day, and total return. The highest values were recorded with the highest marketing age (41 d.), while the lowest values of the same parameters were observed with the lowest marketing age (33 d.). A significant increase in dressing percentage was observed as broiler age progressed from 33 to 39 days at the market; afterward it decreased. D1 had significantly the highest net profit per kilogram live body weight, profitability index, and benefit-cost ratio compared to D5, along with a significantly lower FCR, which indicates a better economic efficiency of lower marketing age. So we concluded that birds marketed at 33 d. can be used efficiently to reduce expenses and obtain better FCR and profitability than birds marketed at 41 d.
Key words: Marketing age, Ross, Growth performance, Profitability index, Carcass.
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