Requirements of dietary energy and protein for CARI-Red layers

An experiment was conduced involving CARI-Red layers during 30–46 weeks of age to evaluate optimum energy and protein levels for eggs production performance, egg quality, fertility, hatchability and nitrogen retention. Eight dietary treatments with two levels of energy (2800 kcal and 2600 kcal ME/kg) and four levels of protein (20, 18, 16 and 14%) at each energy levels following factorial design were formulated. Results on production performance indicated that overall daily feed intake, hen-day production, feed conversion ratio and net feed conversion ratio differed significantly (P<0.01) due to dietary energy levels. Where as, egg weight and change in body weight did not varied significantly due to dietary energy levels. None of the above parameters differ significantly due to protein levels except egg weight. Interaction of energy and protein had no effect on above traits except change in body weight. Egg quality traits including shape index and Haugh unit did not differ significantly due to variable energy, protein and their interaction. Nitrogen retained per bird, percent of nitrogen intake as well as nitrogen retained per unit energy intake increased significantly with increasing dietary protein concentration being higher at 18 and 20% CP levels. The hatchability % on fertile egg and on total egg set basis differed significantly due to protein levels. Where as, these traits did not vary significantly due to energy levels and interaction between energy and protein levels. The study indicated that a dietary level of 16% CP and 2800 kcal ME/kg was optimum for maximum egg production performance of CARl-Red layers.