PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED ISO-CALORICDIETS WITH VARYING PROTEIN LEVELS DURING THE HOT SEASON IN SEMI ARID REGION OF SOKOTO STATE

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the growth performance of broiler chickens in semi-arid region of Sokoto State using160birds fed isocaloric (3000 kcal/kg ME) and varying protein levels diets containing 21, 22, 23 and 24% CP at starter phase while, 19, 20, 21 22% CP and 3100kcal/kg ME at finisher phase. The experimental birds were divided into 4 treatment groups of 40 birds replicated 4 times with 10 birds per replicate and allotted to four dietary treatments denoted as T1, T2, T3 and T4 in a complete randomized design that lasted for 42 days. Weight
gain, feed intake, water intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality, Cost of feed naira per kg were determined at both starter and finisher phases. Results indicated that, there were significant difference (P>0.05) observed in weight gain, mortality and cost of feed naira per kg at starter phase. At finisher phase, significant differences (P<0.05) existed on weight gain, feed intake and cost of feed naira per kg. It could be concluded that dietary protein levels between 24%CP with 3000kcal/kg ME and 22 % with 3100kcal/kg ME at starter and finisher respectively can improve the growth of the broiler chickens. Therefore, T4 diet could be recommended at both starter and
finisher phases. 
INTRODUCTIO