EFFECT OF VARYING ENERGY/LYSINE RATIO ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF GROWING LOCALLY ADAPTED TURKEY

Abstract

Locally adapted turkeys were fed diets containing varying energy/lysine ratios in a four-week study to evaluate growth performance and nutrient digestibility. A total of 144 four-weeks old locally adapted turkey (poults) were completely randomized to six dietary treatments in a 2×3 factorial arrangement,replicated twice with 12 poults per replicate. Diets 1 to 3 contained 2900 kcal/kg ME (12.14 MJ/kg ME) at 13.50g/kg, 15.00g/kg and 16.10g/kg lysine at 260 g/kg CP levels; diets 4 to 6 contained 3000 kcal/kg ME (12.56 MJ/kg ME) at similar dietary lysine and CP levels. The resultant energy/lysine (E/Lys) ratio of diets 1 to 6 were 9:1, 8.1:1, 7.5:1, 9.3:1, 8.4:1 and 7.8:1 respectively. The daily feed intake and FCR of locally adapted turkeys were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by energy × lysine interaction. There was significant (P<0.05) effect of energy/lysine ratio on crude fibre (%) digestibility while energy × lysine interaction effect was observed on the dry matter (%), crude protein (%) and crude fibre (%) digestibility coefficient of locally adapted turkeys’ diets. A higher metabolisable energy level (3000 kcal/kg ME) with 15.0g/kg lysine level and an energy/lysine ratio 8.4:1 is adequate for raising locally adapted turkey in the tropics.