OPTIMUM PROTEIN AND ENERGY LEVELS FOR FINISHING BROILER CHICKENS IN A TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT

Résumé

Three experiments were conducted to determine the optimum protein and energy levels for finishing broiler chickens in a tropical environment. Dietary protein levels (20, 23 and 26 percent) and energy levels (2800, 3000 and 3200 Kcal/kg diet) tested had no significant effects on performance of finishing chickens fed fishmeal-containing rations. Rations based on cereals and groundnut meal, without fishmeal, did not support maximum liveweight gain and feed efficiency at dietary protein levels below 26 percent. Dietary treatments had no significant effects on carcass dressing percentages. Based on the present results, a protein level of 20 percent(for fishmeal containing rations) and 23 or 26 percent (for rations based on groundnut meal without
fishmeal) and energy levels of 2800 to 3000 Kcal/Kg diet are tentatively recommended for finishing broiler chickens raised in a tropical country like Nigeria.