ABSTRACT The aim of present study was to understand the dietary effect of hydroponic wheat sprout (WS) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and lipid profiles of broiler chickens. Two independent feeding trials were conducted using Cobb 500 broiler DOC for the period of 0 to 32 days. In the first trail, 264 DOC were allocated into 4 treatments having 3 replications per treatment and 22 birds per replication to find out the suitable inclusion level of WS. In second trial, 384 broiler DOC were allocated into 4 treatments having 6 replications per treatment and 16 birds in each replication to assess the functional quality of WS. In first trial, the body weight (1692.33 g/bird), body weight gain (1644.96 g/bird) and FCR (1.47) were significantly (p<0.05) improved in the birds fed 50 g/kg WS compared to the other dietary groups but feed intake showed no significant (p<0.05) differences. Likewise, in second trial the birds fed commercial feed showed significantly (p<0.05) higher body weight (1649.50 g/bird) and weight gain (1601.88 g/bird) compared to the birds fed 50 g/kg WS. Feed intake and FCR showed no significance differences. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly (p<0.05) lower (85.5 mg/dl and 84.32 mg/dl, respectively) however HDL was higher (111.86 mg/dl) in the birds received 50 g/kg WS. Taken all together, it can be concluded that the inclusion of 50 g/kg WS in broiler had positive effects on growth performance and blood lipid profile in commercial broilers.

Organisations cannot put their efforts equally into all the best practices that impact operational performance, due to their limited resources, their ineffective usage, government policies, and inadequate strategic planning. In this contribution, we aim to identify and prioritise the practices with the most impact on operational performance. Twelve practices that steer operational performance were identified through a literature survey. Second, the identified practices were prioritised and evaluated, based on improving operational performance by using a hybrid approach. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method were used such that AHP was applied to determine the relative weights of alternatives, and then the final ranking was obtained by conducting a TOPSIS analysis. Empirical data were collected from eight experts and 417 users at operational-level. The results suggest that lean management, total quality management, six sigma, and supply chain management practices rank 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively, signifying the practices with the most influence and making the greatest contribution. This strategic understanding will help researchers and practitioners to frame competitive strategies in order to pay more attention to those practices that have a greater influence on operational performance.

Verskeie faktore lei daartoe dat organisasies nie hul toewyding eweredig aan beste praktyke kan bestee nie. Hierdie faktore sluit in: beperkte hulpbronne, en hul ondoeltreffende aanwending, regeringsbeleid en onvoldoende strategiese beplanning. Hierdie artikel poog om die praktyke wat die grootste impak op operasionele vertoning het te identifiseer en te geprioritiseer. Twaalf praktyke wat operasionele vertoning aanvoer is identifiseer deur 'n literatuurstudie. Daarna is hierdie praktyke prioritiseer en evalueer aan die hand van hul vermoë om operasionele vertoning te verbeter deur middel van 'n hibriede benadering. 'n Analitiese hiërargieproses (AHP) en die tegniek vir orde vertoning deur ooreenstemming met die ideale oplossing (TOPSIS) is gebruik. AHP het die relatiewe gewigsfaktore toegeken en die finale rangorde is met behulp van TOPSIS bepaal. Empiriese data is ingesamel van agt kundiges en 417 operasionele gebruikers. Die resultate toon dat lenige bestuur, totale gehalte bestuur, ses-sigma, en voorsieningskettingbestuur onderskeidelik die eerste tot vierde plekke beklee. Die strategiese verstaan van hierdie resultaat sal navorsers en praktisyns help om mededingende strategieë te formuleer en sorg dat hulle meer aandag aan die sleutel praktyke bestee.