Measurement of crude protein requirement of cockerel finishers by two empirical methods

R I Salami

doi:10.4314/gjas.v41i2.48800

Abstract

Two empirical methods, namely the orthodox or traditional and diet dilution technique, were used to measure the responses of 96 14-week-old Black Olympian cockerel finishers to graded dietary crude protein (CP) levels of 16, 18, 20 and 22 per cent on airdry basis in a 6-week trial. The diets were isocaloric (ca 2600 kcal kg-1 metabolisable energy). Both methods indicated that weight gains, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio were optimized by diets containing 18 per cent CP level at minimal cost of feedper unit gain. The results, thus, confirm that both methods are equally good in predicting the CP requirements of finishing cockerels.

Highlights

The crude protein (CP) requirement of monogastric animals, such as poultry birds, is really required for the constituent amino acids in their diets, especially the essential ones
Monogastrics cannot manufacture enough essential amino acids to satisfy their needs for maintenance and production processes
Ninety-six, 14-week-old Black Olympian cockerel finishers were put into eight experimental groups of the same mean initial live weight

Summary

Introduction

Introduction The crude protein (CP) requirement of monogastric animals, such as poultry birds, is really required for the constituent amino acids in their diets, especially the essential ones. The orthodox or traditional method most commonly used for formulating experimental diets in the CP or energy requirement studies involves adjusting dietary proportions of protein or energy concentrates or both to produce graded levels of protein or energy or both (Olomu, 1977; Njike, 1981; Ojewola & Longe, 1999).

Results

Conclusion