Response of feeding different levels of phosphorus and manganese on growth performance of CARI-Red chicks

The response of graded levels of dietary available phosphorus (AP) at 0.30 and 0.40% and manganese (Mn) at 45, 55 and 65 mg/kg was studied on growth performance of CARI Red chicks in a 2 x 3 factorial experiment. Day old CARI Red chicks (n=480) were distributed in 24 groups of 20 each. Each of such test diet was offered as mash ad libitum to four replicated groups housed in battery brooder cages. Results indicated that during 0–4 wks of age, the body weight gain was significantly (P<0.01) higher in chicks fed 55 mg Mn/kg diet. During 8–12 and 0–12 wks of age, the body weight gain was significantly higher at 45 mg Mn/kg diet. However, feed conversion efficiency (FCR) did not differ in any of the growth phase. Body weight gain, feed intake and FCR in different growth phases were also not affected due to different dietary AP levels or interaction between AP and Mn levels. It is concluded that the optimum dietary phosphorus and manganese requirement for CARI Red chicks is 0.30% and 55 mg/kg, respectively up to 0–4 wks of age and 0.30% and 45 mg/kg, respectively for 4–12 wks of age for optimum growth performance.