An experiment was conducted to study the effect of housing and dietary protein on feed consumption and feed efficiency of pure (G1) and crossbred Kadaknath birds (G2). A total number of 144 birds, 72 each of G1 and G2 and 36 of each stock were housed in cage (H1) and deep litter (H2) housing system. Three different diets were fed to birds which containing 14% (P1) 16% (P2) and 18% (P3) with 2500 kcal ME/kg Birds were kept in 2 replicates (6 birds per replicate) from 32 -47 weeks of age. Results revealed that feed efficiency kg feed/dozen (1.69) and kg feed/kg egg mass (2.90) of crossbreed Kadaknath were significantly superior to 1.92 and 3.55 of purebred Kadaknath whereas similar average feed consumption (AFC) was recorded for G1 (109.9 g) and G2 (110.5 g). AFC (106.28 v/s 114.08 g) of G1 and G2 hens were significantly lower in H1 than the H2 housing system. Simultaneously hens kept in H1 housing system showed significantly better feed efficiency kg feed/dozen egg (1.78 v/s 1.83) than the H2. AFC of hens on P3 and P1 dietary treatment was similar (109.6 and 110.0 g) but significantly lower than the P2 diet (110.9 g). The feed efficiency was better in P2 and P3 diets as compared to P1.
Housing, dietary protein, feed consumption, crossbred Kadakanath hen
