INFLUENCE OF ENERGY LEVEL AND PARTICLE SIZE OF FEED ON PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF ATHULYA LAYER CHICKEN
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Date
2015-12-30
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR
Abstract
An experiment was carried out in Athulya layer chicken (Single Combed
White Leghorn) from 17 to 64 weeks of age to evaluate the influence of ME levels
(2200, 2400 and 2600 kcal/kg) and particle size (3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 mm) of feed on
production performance, nutrient utilization and economics in a 3x3 factorial design.
There were nine experimental diets and each diet was fed to five replicate groups
constituted 10 birds each. All experimental diets were identical in calorie protein
ratio as per BIS, 1992 specifications.
The hen housed and hen day egg production from 17 to 64 weeks of age
were comparable among birds fed diet containing different levels of ME and
particle size. Daily feed intake and FCR was significantly (p<0.000) lower in birds
fed diet containing ME level of 2600 kcal/kg than in birds fed diet with lower ME
levels (2400 and 2200 kcal/kg). The effect of particle size of feed was not
significant for daily feed intake and FCR.
The egg weight and egg shell thicknesses of birds were not influenced by
either dietary ME levels or particle size from 17 to 64 weeks of age. The body
weight and body weight gain at 40 and 64 weeks of age was significantly (p<0.05)
higher in birds fed diet containing ME level of 2600 kcal/kg than in birds fed diet
containing lower ME levels (2400 and 2200 kcal/kg). The effect of particle size of
feed was not significant for body weight and body weight gain at 40 and 64 weeks
of age. The livability of birds was not influenced by either dietary ME levels or
particle size from 17 to 64 weeks of age.
The birds fed diet containing lower ME level of 2200 and 2400 kcal/kg
had significantly (p<0.05) lower dry matter, gross energy, zinc and manganese
utilization than birds fed on 2600 kcal/kg diet. The crude protein, crude fat, total
ash, phosphorus and copper utilization were comparable among birds fed diet
containing different levels of dietary ME. The birds fed diet containing lower ME
level of 2200 kcal/kg had significantly (p<0.00) lower calcium utilization than
birds fed diets containing higher dietary ME levels of 2400 and 2600 kcal/kg. The
calcium utilization was significantly (p<0.016) higher in birds fed feed particle size
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment of requirement for the degree of
DOCTORof Philosophy in Poultry Science