Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar - 243 122 (UP).
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying dietary levels of protein on meat production performance of Naked Neck x CARI-Red (Hitcari) and Frizzle x CARI-Red (Upcari) growing chicks. In experiment I, day-old Naked neck x CARI-Red chicks, 192 in number, were subjected to 4 dietary treatments, consisting of 22, 20, 18 & 16% level of crude protein in diets, with 4 replicates of 12 birds each. While in the second experiment, the similar treatments were assessed in Frizzle x CARI-Red (Upcari) chicks (n=192) upto 12 weeks of age. Body weight and feed intake was recorded on weekly basis up to 12 weeks of age, followed by carcass characteristic studies on male birds in both the experiments. Results of the expo 1 indicated that the body wt. gain of chicks up to 4 weeks of age fed 20% CP diet was higher (P<0.01) than those fed diets with 16% or 18% CP. Feed intake did not differ due to protein levels. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of chicks during 0–4 weeks fed either 22% or 20% CP diet was better (P<0.01) than those fed diets with 16% or 18% CP. Thereafter, FCR remained similar. Eviscerated yield did not differ significantly. In expo 2, the body wt gain was higher at 22% and 20% CP at 0–4 weeks (P<0.01) and at 16% CP during 4–8 weeks of age, while thereafter, did not differ significantly due to protein levels. Feed intake also remained similar. FCR also remained statistically similar at 22, 20 or 18% CP, while it was poor in 16% CP diet at 0–4 weeks of age. Thereafter (4–12 weeks), FCR did not alter due to CP levels. Carcass traits did not differ due to protein levels. Male birds grew significantly higher than female and attained more than a kg at 12 weeks of age. The results indicated that the optimum dietary protein levels for Naked neck x CARI-Red (Hitcari) and Frizzle x CARI-Red (Upcari) chicks up to 4 weeks of age is 20%, thereafter 16% for 4 to 12 weeks of age.
Naked neck, Frizzle, protein requirement, growth performance, carcass traits
