Indian Journal of Poultry Science

An experiment was conducted with 432 Vanaraja chicks to find out the optimum requirements of calcium (Ca) and non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) during their juvenile stage (i.e. 1 to 42 days of age). A maize-de oiled rice bran-soybean meal based basal diet was prepared to contain 2400 kcal ME/kg and 16% protein. The basal diet was supplemented with required levels of shell grit and dicalcium phosphate at the expense of de-oiled rice bran to achieve 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9% Ca and 0.25, 0.35 and 0.45% NPP in 3 X 3 factorial manner. The diets were fed ad libitum to 8 replicate groups containing 6 one-day-old Vanaraja chicks housed in stainless steel battery brooder pens. Weight gain, FI and feed efficiency at 21 d of age, FI and feed efficiency at 42 days of age were not affected by the interaction between Ca and NPP levels in diet. Increasing the levels of Ca from 0.5 to 0.7% significantly increased weight gain at 21 days of age, FI at 21 and 42 days of age, leg abnormality score, tibia weight and serum Ca levels. Variation in NPP level did not influence these parameters, except the bone weight, which was increased significantly with increase in Ca level from 0.5 to 0.7%. The interaction between the levels of Ca and NPP in diet also suggested that for optimum weight gain, these birds need 0.7% Ca and 0.25% NPP. The interaction between Ca and NPP levels on the bone mineral parameters suggest higher requirement of Ca and NPP (0.7 and 0.35%, respectively) for optimum bone mineralization compared to those required for growth. Based on the performance and bone mineralization, it could be concluded that Vanaraja chicks need 0.70% Ca and 0.35% NPP during 1 to 42 days of age.