RESPOND OF POULTRY BROILER CHICKS TO LOW DIETARY ENERGY LEVELS

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of low dietary energy on growth performance of poultry broiler chicks. Two hundred and seventy day old Amok broiler chicks were weighed and randomly allotted to three dietary treatments containing 2 400 ME Kcal/Kg, 2 600 ME Kcal/Kg and 2 800 ME Kcal/Kg designated as A, B and C. Each treatment, containing ninety birds was replicated three times with thirty birds per replicate. The experiment was laid in a completely Randomized designed. The differences between the results of the performance were tested for Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using the General Linear Model Univariate Procedure of SPSS 16.0 and significant differences of means were compared using Least Significant Difference (LSD). Results showed that feed in take showed statistical difference (p<0.05) between the three treatments. Birds fed least energy level (2 400 ME Kcal/Kg) showed highest final live weight (738.64g/b) and body weight gain (772.66g/b). There were no significant difference (p<0.05) in final live weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The study recommended that low energy diets should be formulated for poultry starter so as to minimize the accumulation of cholesterol in between the muscle fibres and on visceral organs which can consequently affects the physiological and metabolic functions of the birds, organoleptic characteristics, marketability of the products and health status of the consumer.