Performance of Broilers Starter Fed Diets Containing Varying Crude Protein Levels
I. S. Harande *
Department of Animal Health and Production, College of Agriculture Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
F. A. Maiyama
Department of Entrepreneurship Education, College of Agriculture Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
A. U. Hassan
Department of Animal Health and Production, College of Agriculture Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
M. S. Ribah
Department of Animal Health and Production, College of Agriculture Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
U. Z. Senchi
Department of Animal Health and Production, College of Agriculture Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
I. Ilevbare
Department of Animal Health and Production, College of Agriculture Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Experiment was conducted in the Livestock Research and Teaching Farm Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. To determine the performance of broiler starter fed diets containing varying crude protein levels (23, 25 and 27% CP) diets tagged T1, T2 and T3 were compounded respectively. Using two hundred and ten (210) Ross 308 day old chicks were used replicated seven times each treatment had 10 chicks per treatment. Feed intake, water intake and body weight of the birds were determined and compared. Result of final body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly different (P<0.05), for all the treatment while water intake and percent mortality showed no significant difference (P>0.05). It could be concluded that in this ecological zone, feeding up to 27% CP to broiler starters promotes live weight gain and feed efficiency.
Keywords: Broilers starter, diets, crude protein levels, performance.