Vol. 11, Special Issue 10 (2022)

Author(s):
Dr. Shankar, Dr. K Venkata Reddy and Dr. Prathviraj

Abstract:
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of protein on the growth performance of Red Cornish birds up to eight weeks of age. In this study 448 day old chicks were randomly distributed to four dietary treatments consisting of 19, 20, 21 and 22% crude protein with constant energy level of 2800 Kcal ME/kg during starter phase and 17, 18, 19 and 20% crude protein with constant energy level of 2900 Kcal ME/kg during finisher phase, with four replicates of 28 birds each. The birds were provided feed and water ad libitum. The experiment was conducted as per the Animal Ethical Committee recommendations (KVAFSU, Bidar, and Karnataka). Data on growth performance, Different growth parameters studied are Body weight gain (weekly), Feed consumption (weekly), Feed conversion ratio (weekly), Survivability, were recorded and presented. The dietary protein levels employed in this experiment had significant (p≤0.05) effect on body weight gain and feed consumption of Red Cornish birds fed with varying levels of protein. The feed conversion ratio was poor in 19% protein fed group while 22% CP diet resulted better feed efficiency when compared to other groups for starter phase. Similarly in finisher phase feed conversion ratio was poor in birds fed with 17% CP and was better in 20% CP. The optimum protein requirement for Red Cornish bird is 22% in starter phase and 20% in finisher phase.