Effects of varying levels of dietary energy and crude protein on performance of layer-type cockerels

Introduction

The experiment was conducted at Poultry Research Station, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Anand, Gujarat. To study effects of varying levels of dietary energy and crude protein on juvenile growth performance and feed efficiency of layer-type cockerel. To study effects of varying levels of dietary energy and crude protein on Return Over Feed Cost of layer-type cockerel. A total of 230 day old male On first day, feed was offered to chicks by sprinkling on papers and in plastic trays. From second day onwards, feed was offered in feeders only. Frequent stirring and mixing of feed in the feeder was done. Clean, fresh, wholesome drinking water was made available to all experimental birds ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Rice husk was used as litter material. It was spread evenly on the floor and was stirred occasionally to keep it dry. Strict biosecurity measures and standard medication programme were adopted. The birds were protected against various diseases by following vaccination schedule. Weekly body weight (g) was recorded at day-old (BW0), 1 st (BW1), 2 nd (BW2), 3 rd (BW3), 4 th (BW4), 5 th (BW5), 6 th (BW6), 7 th (BW7), 8 th (BW8), 9 th (BW9), 10 th (BW10), 11 th (BW11) and 12 th (BW12) week of age. Weekly body weight gain (g) was calculated as BWG0-1, BWG1-2, BWG2-3, BWG3-4, BWG4-5, BWG5-6, BWG6-7, BWG7-8, BWG8-9, BWG9-10, BWG10-11 and BWG11-12. The feed consumption was calculated by subtracting the feed left over from the total feed offered during the period of seven days. Feed consumption of 1 st (FC1), 2 nd (FC2), 3 rd (FC3), 4 th (FC4), 5 th (FC5), 6 th (FC6), 7 th (FC7), 8 th (FC8), 9 th (FC9), 10 th (FC10), 11 th (FC11) and 12 th (FC12) week was calculated. Feed consumption up to 4 th week of age (TFC0-4), from 5 th to 8 th week of age (TFC5-8), from 9 th to 12 th week of age (TFC9-12) and up to 12 th week of age (TFC0-12) was calculated. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) is the amount of feed consumed to produce one kilogram of live body weight and is an important tool to measure the feed conversion efficiency of birds. Total feed consumption and total body weight for each week were worked out replicate-wise for each treatment separately. Livability was calculated by recording mortality that occurs up to 12 th week of age. Return Over Feed Cost (ROFC) of each treatment group was calculated after the end of the experiment. Cost of each treatment group was calculated and it was taken into consideration while calculating Return Over Feed Cost (ROFC). The data were analyzed using Completely Randomized Design as per Snedecor and Cochran (1994). Means of replicates under each treatment were considered for analysis.

Results and Discussion

The mean body weight (g) of birds at day old, 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th, 5 th , 6 th , 9 th , 10 th , 11 th and 12 th week of age did not differ significantly among treatment rations. At the 1 st week of age, the mean body weight (g) of birds fed with T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 , T 7 , T 8 and T 9 rations was found to be 58.71 ±1.94, 64.43±0.48, 67.63±2.59, 63.21±0.74, 67.17±2.13, 63.42±0.74, 65.96±1.51, 65.79±1.79 and 66.46±1.90, respectively. The mean body weight of birds at 1 st week of age fed diet with T 2 , T 3 , T 5 , T 7 , T 8 and T 9 rations was significantly (p<0.05) higher than birds fed with T 1 ration. Highest mean body weight at 1 st week of age was observed in birds fed diet with T 3 ration followed by T 5 , T 9 , T 7 , T 8 , T 2 , T 6 , T 4 and T 1 rations. The mean body weight (g) of birds at 7 th week of age fed with T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 , T 7 , T 8 and T 9 rations was found to be 489.63±21.44, 453.50±23.67, 452.30±20. The mean body weight of birds at 7 th week of age fed diet with T 7 and T 5 rations was significantly (p<0.05) higher than birds fed with T 2 , T 3 , T 6 , T 8 and T 9 rations. Highest mean body weight at 7 th week of age was observed in birds fed diet with T 7 ration followed by T 5 , T 4 , T 1 , T 8 , T 2 , T 3 , and T 9 and T 6 rations. The mean body weight (g) of birds at 8 th week of age fed with T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 , T 7 , T 8 and T 9 rations was found to be 618.85±20.93, 568.20±30.55, 571.88±20.43, 626.15±5.27, 607.60±6.77, 524.70±26.86, 630.68±9.91, 574.48±28.21 and 570.88±21.39, respectively. The mean body weight of birds at 8 th week of age fed diet with T 7 ration was significantly (p<0.05) higher than birds fed with T 6 ration. Highest mean body weight at 8 th week of age was observed in birds fed diet with T 7 ration followed by T 4 , T 1 , T 5 , T 8 , T 3 , T 9 , T 2 and T 6 rations. At 12 th week of age, the mean body weight (g) of birds fed diet with T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 , T 7 , T 8 and T 9 rations was found to be 903.08±21.83, 856.83±26.05, 862.30±20.28, 880.78±14.27, 838.60±13.07, 809.00±32.42, 863.90±19.78, 860.83±26.88 and 869.28±30.37, respectively. There were no significant differences in BW12 among all the treatment rations. However, highest mean body weight at 12 th week of age was observed in birds fed diet with T 1 ration followed by T 4 , T 9 , T 3 , T 7 , T 2 , T 8 , T 5 and T 6 rations. The weekly body weight gain (g), i.e., BWG1-2, BWG3-4, BWG4-5, BWG5-6, BWG7-8, BWG8-9, BWG10-11, BWG11-12 and overall experimental period (BWG0-12) of age did not differ significantly among treatment rations. The mean body weight gain (g) of birds during the whole experimental period (0-12 week of age) fed diet with T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 , T 7 , T 8 and T 9 rations was found to be 955.30±17.81, 905.70±29.88, 908.53±31.76, 927.65±18.52, 884.00±19.12, 855.44±28.35, 906.18±24.66, 901.59±24.55 and 916.54±26.56, respectively. There were no significant differences in BWG0-12 among all the treatment rations. However, highest mean body weight gain (BWG0-12) was observed in birds fed diet with T 1 ration followed by T 4 , T 9 , T 3 , T 7 , T 2 , T 8 , T 5 and T 6 rations. The mean feed consumption (g/bird) of birds at day FC2, FC5, FC6, FC7, FC8, FC9, FC10, FC0-4, FC5-8 and overall experimental period (FC0-12) of age did not differ significantly among treatment rations. At 0-12 week of age, the mean feed consumption of birds fed diet with T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 , T 7 , T 8 and T 9 rations was found to be 2887.65±108. 4 The mean total feed consumption of birds at 0-12 week of age fed diet with different treatment rations did not differ significantly among each other. However, highest total feed consumption at 0-12 week of age was observed in birds fed diet with T 4 ration followed by T 7 , T 9 , T 3 , T 2 , T 8 , T 1 , T 6 and T 5 rations. The feed conversion ratio calculated at the end of each week i.e., FCR0-1, FCR0-2, FCR0-3, FCR0-4, FCR0-5, FCR0-6, FCR0-7, FCR0-8, FCR0-9, FCR0-10, FCR0-11 and FCR0-12, respectively. The feed conversion ratio of birds up to 12 th week of age fed diet with T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 , T 7 , T 8 and T 9 rations was found to be 2.90±0.12, 3.07±0.11, 3.13±0.13, 3.09±0.03, 2.95±0.17, 3.14±0.03, 3.15±0.05, 3.12±0.09 and 3.05±0.08 respectively. The mean feed conversion ratio of birds (FCR0-12) fed diet with different rations did not differ significantly among treatment rations. However, improved feed conversion ratio (FCR0-12) was observed in T 1 followed by T 5 , T 9 , T 2 , T 4 , T 8 , T 3 , T 6 and T 7 rations.

Livability (%) of birds fed diet with T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 , T 7 , T 8 and T 9 rations was found to be 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 96.43, 100 and 100, respectively. During 4 th week, one bird was died due to heat stress. ROFC (Rs./bird) for birds fed diet with T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 , T 7 , T 8 and T 9 rations was found to be-66.05,-78.

Conclusion

Layer-type cockerels fed diet T 1 containing 20% crude protein and 2800 kcal metabolizable energy/kg showed comparatively higher body weight, body weight gain, improved feed conversion ratio, lowest feed cost per bird, and highest income from bird sales up to 12 weeks of age, although differences among dietary treatments were not statistically significant. The lowest feed consumption was recorded in birds fed diet T 5 (22% crude protein and 3000 kcal metabolizable energy/kg), with no significant variation among treatments. Livability remained high across all treatments, ranging from 96.43% to 100%, indicating good health and management. Despite these performance parameters, Return Over Feed Cost (ROFC) was negative for all diets due to high feed costs and low market price of cockerels under the intensive deep-litter system. Thus, rearing layer-type cockerels under the present experimental conditions was not economically viable. Future studies should evaluate these parameters under backyard or lowinput production systems to better assess economic feasibility.

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