Growth performance and blood biochemicals of starting broiler chicks as influenced by different levels of dietary phosphorus

Day old broiler chicks (n=324) were randomly divided into 36 groups of 9 chicks each. Three test diets were formulated with 0.30, 0.40 and 0.50% available phosphorus by manipulating the inclusion level of dicalcium phosphate in a corn-soya based basal diet. Each diet was offered at random to twelve replicated groups of 9 broiler chicks each reared group-wise in battery cages under uniform man agement from 0–3 wks of age.

The feeding of diets varying in available phosphorus contents did not influence the growth performance of broiler chicks during starting phase (0–3 wks). Similarly, the activity of serum alkaline phosphotase and serum calcium & phosphorus levels also remained statistically (P>0.05) similar among different dietary treatments. It is inferred that the lowest dietary inclusion level of dicalcium phosphak at 1.2% (equivalent to 0.30% available phosphorus) in a corn-soya based basal diet was adequate for optimum performance of broiler chicks during starting phase in tropical climate.