Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology
Year : 2001, Volume : 1, Issue : 2
First page : ( 131) Last page : ( 135)
Print ISSN : 0972-2963.

Performance of Growing Chicks on Non-Cereal Rations

Dharne H.V., Mathur M.M.*, Gupta R.S., Arora N.

Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Jabalpur-482 001, India.

*Reprint request: Dr. M.M. Mathur, Tel.: +91-761-322928/427220.

Received:  17  February,  2001.

Abstract

Three dietary treatments including one control (D₁) and two non-cereal diets (D₂ and D₃) were evaluated in White Leg Horn chicks from 9 to 20 weeks of age. All diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric except for D₂ (low energy). The consumption of non-cereal feed with low energy (D₂) was significantly more (P < 0.05) than chicks fed D₁ (6722.59 vs 6508.74 g). There were no significant differences in gain in body weight and feed efficiency. The albumen index and haugh unit were significantly low (P < 0.05) in D₂. The low energy diet was cheaper by Rs. 5.89/kg gain than D₁. Results indicated that low energy non-cereal diet (CP 16%, ME 2300 Kcal/kg) had no adverse effect on the growth or sexual maturity of the growing female chicks between 9–20 weeks, hence can be used safely at farmer's level.

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Key words

Chicks, Rice-polish, Growth, Sexual maturity, Egg quality.

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