Performance of Vanaraja chicks fed diets containing diiferent levels of protein

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary protein level on performance of Vanaraja chicks during juvenile phase of life. Three hundred and sixty one-day-old straight run Vanaraja chicks were equally and randomly divided in to six groups of 10 replicates with six chicks in each. Chicks in each of the 6 groups were offered one of the six iso-caloric (2.6 Meal ME/kg) diets containing 14.5 to 22.0% CP with an increment of 1.5% from 3 to 49 days of age. The weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) low at 14.5% CP in diet as compared to those fed 16% or more protein during 1 to 49 days of age. The efficiency of feed utilization at 21 days of age was significantly (P<0.05) low as the dietary protein concentration decreased below 17.5%. No significant difference in feed efficiency was evident among the dietaiy groups containing 16% or higher protein in diet during 1 to 35 days or 1 tt o4 9ays so age. Neither ready to cook yield nor lymphoid organ (spleen and bursa) weights were influenced by the dietary protein concentration. The relative weights of liver, gizzard, giblet, intestine and fat were significantly higher in birds fed 14.5% CP as compared to those of other dietary groups (16% CP and above). It was concluded that Vanaraja chicks for optimum performance during 1 to 49 days so age need 16% CP with 2.6 Meal ME/kg in diet.