Effects of feeding different nutrient densities finisher diets with constant calorie protein ratio on the performance of coloured broilers

A study was designed to record the effects of feeding finisher diets with different nutrient densities but constant calorie protein ratio on the performance of coloured broilers. Two hundred forty day-old straight run coloured broiler chicks (CSML x CSFL) were randomly distributed in 12 replicate groups of 20 chicks each. Three replicate groups were randomly allotted to each of the four treatments. Four experimental finisher diets with different nutrient densities (T1- 3200 Kcal ME/19.35% CP; T2- 3100Kcal ME/18.7% CP; T3- 3000 Kcal ME/18.1% CP, T4- 2900 Kcal ME/17.5% CP) but constant C:P ratio (165.7), were prepared. Each of the experimental diets was randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups. The 6^th week body weight of different groups ranged between 13645 g to 1467 g with lowest body weight in T4 group. However, statistical analysis revealed no significant difference amongst the treatment groups. The FCR value ranged between 2.18 to 2.47 in different treatment groups. The feed cost declined with decrease in the nutrient densities. It is more economical to feed a finisher diet containing 2900 kcal ME/kg diet at 17.5% crude protein with a C:P ratio of 166 than feeding higher nutrient dense diets with the same C:P ratio.