Impacts of Graded Levels of Metabolizable Energy on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Slow-Growing Yellow-Feathered Male Chickens

摘要

Simple SummaryInadequate feed inhibits the potential performance of birds, and giving birds excess nutrients or levels higher than the requirement reduces production profits and may lead to negative effects on performance. Although recently there has been an expanding market worldwide for slower growing chickens to meet the consumer demand for a better tasting meat, little effort has gone into optimizing their dietary nutrient levels. Using fiv e different dietary energy levels, this study evaluated the optimal requirement of dietary energy for maximal growth rate, feed:gain ratio, meat quality indices, and blood metabolites of a Chinese yellow-feathered breed.