Effect of different feeding levels of berseem on production performance of coloured Chabro chicken

Raghav, H., Bhattacharyya, A., Shukla, P.K., Sirohi, R., Jadhav, P.R., Bondar, B.B. andKherde, A.R. 2023. Effect of different feeding levels of berseem on production performance of coloured Chabro chicken. Indian Journal Poultry Science, 58(3): 231–234.

In this study, 120 day-old colored chickens, Chabro, were distributed into four groups, each with three replicates of 10 birds. The control group (T1) received a basal diet (broiler starter diet up to 4 weeks, followed by broiler finisher diet up to 8 weeks). In T2, 5% of the basal diet was replaced with green berseem meal on a dry matter basis. T3 received the basal diet for 4 weeks, followed by ad libitum access to green berseem along with the basal diet. In T4, the initial 4 weeks mirrored T2, followed by ad libitum access to green berseem along with the basal diet. Weekly feed intake was significantly higher (P<0.002) in T1, T2, and T3 compared to T4 at the 5th week of age. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of T3 was significantly better (P<0.045) than T2 at the 1st week of age. By the 5th week of age, the FCR of T4 was significantly better (P<0.023) than T1 and T3. The total feed cost per kg of live weight gain was significantly lower (P<0.01) in T2 and T4 compared to T1 and T3 from the 2nd week of age onwards until the end of the experiment. In conclusion, replacing 5% of the basal diet with green berseem meal on a dry matter basis and providing ad libitum access to green berseem along with the basal diet after four weeks of age resulted in significantly lower weekly feed intake and lower weekly feed cost per kg of live weight gain after the 1 st week of age.