Determination of optimum dietary energy and protein levels for confined early-stage Fulani Ecotype chickens

摘要

Despitelimitedimprovement,theimportanceofindigenouschickensisunderscoredbytheirmajorproportionofpoultryindevelopingcountries,geneticdiversityandmanagementbysmallholders.Surprisingly,attentiontonutritionalrequirements,especiallyenergyandproteinattheearlystagesofgrowthhasbeenlimitedornon-existent,particularlyfrom0-5weeks.Thisstudyestimatedtheoptimumenergyandcrudeprotein(CP)levelsforgrowthperformanceof180day-oldNigerianFulaniecotypechickens(FEC)underadeeplittersystemto12weeksofageintwophases(0-6and6-12weeks).Eachphasehadsixdietarytreatmentsreplicatedthrice,tenbirds/replicate,ina3x2factorialarrangementof2900,3000or3100kcalME/kgwith20and22%CPor18and20%CP,respectively.At0-6weeks,birdsfed3000kcalME/kgwith22%CPweresimilar(P0.05)toothersforfeedconversionbutsuperior(P0.05)consideringfinalweight,feedintake,bodyweightgainandfeedcost/gain.Thesamebirdsswitchedto3000kcalME/kgwith20%CPat6-12weeks,weresimilar(P0.05)toothersformortality,feedintake,feedconversion,bodyweightgainandcarcasscharacteristicsbutsuperior(P0.05)infinalweightandfeedcost/gain.Evaluationofthewholeperiod(0-12weeks)confirmedtheresultsoftheindividualphases.OptimumdietaryenergyandproteinforFECwas3000kcalME/kgwith22%CPfor0-6weeks,and3000kcalME/kgwith20%CPfor6-12weeksofgrowth.Theseresultswillbeimportantforimprovementprogramsonindigenouschickens