Chick Starter Diet Research Articles

Chemical Composition and Functional Properties of Spray-Dried Animal Plasma and Its Contributions to Livestock and Pet Health: A Review.

Spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) is a functional ingredient derived from healthy animal blood, used as a nutritional additive in livestock and pet nutrition. SDAP is rich in macronutrients, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds such as immunoglobulins, albumin, growth factors, peptides, transferrin, and enzymes. This review focuses on the chemical composition of SDAP from porcine, bovine, and poultry sources, including protein quality and mineral profile. SDAP enhances performance and health in monogastric farm animals, aquaculture, and pets. It promotes growth rates and feed intake due to its high digestibility and superior amino acid profile compared to other protein sources. In pigs, SDAP's positive effects stem from tissue-specific actions in the gastrointestinal tract, impacting digestion, immunity, and barrier function. For poultry, SDAP shows promise as a substitute for antibiotic growth promoters, particularly in chick starter diets. SDAP contains functional proteins that regulate immune response, enhance intestinal health, and aid in stress conditions. It is also used as a binder in pet food, providing high protein content and other desirable properties. SDAP meets the dietary requirements of carnivorous pets, appealing to owners seeking animal-derived protein sources. Additionally, SDAP may help prevent cognitive impairment in senior dogs and cats.

Growth traits and performance of caged Fulani ecotype chickens fed commercial diets meant for broiler and pullet chicks

Two Hundred and six day old Fulani Ecotype chicks (FEC)were used to investigate the effect of feeding two types of diet (Chick starter diet and Broiler starter diet formulated to meet standard nutritional requirement of pullets and broiler chicks) on growth traits and performance from O to 8 weeks. The broiler starter diet contained 23% Crude Protein (CP) and 3000Kcal/kg Metabolizable Energy (ME), and the Chick starter diet contained 21% CP and 2800Kcal/Kg ME. The growth traits measured were body weight (BW), body length (BL), body girth (BG), wing length (WL), thigh length (TL), drumstick length (DL), keel length (KL), and shank length (SL), while chicks performance were estimated from feed intake. feed efficiency, growth rate and weight gain. Average body weight of chicks fed broiler starter diet were significantly (P<0.05) higher from week 1 to 8. Chicks fed broiler starter diet exhibited numerically higher BL, BG, WL, TL, DL and KL than those fed chick starter diet at all ages and differences were significant (P<0.05) at some ages. Chicks fed broiler starter diet significantly (P<0.05) consumed more feed at week 1 and 2, and they gained more weight than those fed chick starter diet from 0 to 4 weeks (120.51 vs. 97.89g), and 5-8 weeks (255.11 vs. 239.13g). Feed efficiency in chicks fed broiler starter diet was relatively higher by 13.21% than observed in those fed chick starter diet from day old to 4 weeks and this translated to faster growth rate during the period in the former group (34.30% Vs.32.67%). This Study shows that the broiler starter diet produced superior growth traits and better feed efficiency in Fulani Ecotype chicks.

Eimeria challenge adversely affected long bone attributes linked to increased resorption in 14-day-old broiler chickens

ABSTRACTThere is limited information on the effects of enteric pathogen on bone quality in rapidly growing broiler chicks. We examined tibia and femur attributes (length, diameter, relative weight of ash content [AC] to the BW, ash concentration [AP]) and serum bone-turnover markers including receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) for resorption, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) for mineralization, and selected serum metabolites in 14-day-old broilers challenged with Eimeria. A total of 160 (80 males and 80 females) 1-day-old Ross × Ross 708 chicks were used. Based on BW, birds were placed within sex in cages (5 birds per cage) and fed chick starter diets to day 9 of age. On day 9, half of the cages were orally gavaged with 1 mL of Eimeria culture (100,000 oocysts of E. acervulina and 25,000 oocysts of E. maxima) and the other half (unchallenged control) received 1 mL 0.9% saline in distilled water. On day 14, 2 birds were randomly selected and necropsied for intestinal lesion score, blood, tibia, and femur samples. Data were analyzed in a 2 (challenged vs. unchallenged) × 2 (males vs. females) factorial arrangement. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between Eimeria and sex on any measurement. Whereas there were no intestinal lesions in unchallenged birds, Eimeria resulted in lesion score (0 to 4) of 3.35, 2.59 and 0.11 in duodenum, jejunum and ileum, respectively. Eimeria challenge decreased (P < 0.05) tibia AC and AP by 10 and 8.2%, respectively but had no (P > 0.10) effect on femur attributes. Generally, males showed (P < 0.05) longer and wider bones with more AC compared with the female. Circulating serum RANKL concentration increased (P = 0.017) in response to Eimeria challenge and was negatively correlated with tibia AC (–0.731; P = 0.021). Our findings showed that Eimeria damage to the intestinal physiology had adverse effects on long bone attributes linked to increased resorption.

Utilization of fermented castor oil seed (ricinus communis, L) meal in diets for cockerel chicks

The effect of including 0, 50, 100 and 150 gkg-1 of fermented castor oil seed (FCSM) meal in the diets of 160 day old chicks of Nera strain, on performance, nutrient digestibilities, haematology and carcass yield, was assessed for 56 days. The final live weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were affected (p<0.05) by treatments. The final live weight decreased (p<0.05) as FCSM increased in the diets. There were no differences in the weight gain of chicks fed control and 50 gkg-1 FCSM diet. The apparent nutrient digestibility of chicks fed control diets were higher (p<0.05) than those fed other dietary treatments. Chicks fed control diets recorded the highest (p<0.05) carcass yield in terms of plucked and eviscerated weight. These values obtained in chicks fed 50 gkg-1 were higher (p<0.05) than those fed 100 and 150 gkg-1 FCSM. There were no differences in back, breast, gizzard, and intestines weights. The white cell and platelet counts were affected (p<0.05) for chicks fed 100 and 150 gkg-1 FCSM diets. Higher (p<0.05) values of serum creatinine were obtained in chicks fed 100 and 150 gkg-1 FCSM. FCSM could successfully be included in chick starter diets at 50 gkg-1 inclusion.

Development of a precision-fed ileal amino acid digestibility assay using 3-week-old broiler chicks

The objective of these studies was to develop a precision-fed ileal digestibility assay, primarily for amino acids (AA), using 3-wk-old broiler chicks. For all experiments, day-old Ross × Ross 708 broiler chicks were fed a standard corn-soybean meal starter diet until 21 d of age. In experiment 1, feed was removed and excreta were collected at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 h after feed withdrawal. Results indicated that 8 h of feed withdrawal was sufficient to empty the ileum of feed residues. In a subsequent experiment, chicks were fasted overnight for 10 h and then tube-fed various amounts (from 6 to 15 g) of a corn-soybean meal mixture (60:40). Ileal digesta from Meckel's diverticulum to the ileo-cecal junction were then collected at various collection times between 3 and 7 h postfeeding. Results indicated that the amount of digesta in the distal ileum was generally maximized by 4 h postfeeding and by feed intakes of 9 g or greater. Based on the results of the previous study, apparent and standardized ileal digestibility values of AA in a corn-soybean meal chick starter diet were then determined at 2, 3, and 4 h postfeeding. Digestibility values were similar for the 3- and 4-h collection times, but were numerically or significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower at the 2-h collection time. The results of this study indicate that ileal AA digestibility can easily be determined in 3-wk-old broiler chicks when using a precision-fed assay. For such an assay, it is recommended that the chicks be fasted for at least 8 h before tube-feeding, that they be precision-fed approximately 10 g of feed, and that the ileal contents be collected at approximately 4 h postfeeding.

Effect of replacing groundnut cake with urea fermented brewer’s dried grains in broiler chicks diets

The effect o replacing groundnut cake with urea fermented brewer’s dried grains at 0 25 50, 75 and 100 % graded levels in broiler chick starter diets was investigated. Five dietary treatments were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric to provide 23 % crude protein and 2900 kcal/kg metabolizable energy. One hundred and ninety – five day-old broiler chicks (Anak breed) were randomly allotted to five treatments replicated thrice with 13 chicks per replicate, fed and watered ad libitum in battery cages for 35 days. Means of body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed: weight gain rato of broiler chicks fed the control diet, 25 and 50 % urea fermented brewer’s dried grains dets were significanty (P < 0.05) better than those fed 75 and 100 % inclusion levels. Nitrogen and lipid retention, crude fibre and dry matter digestibilities of broiler chicks followed the same trend wth the weight perormance. Mortality was zero. Economically, i was more profitable to use urea fermented brewer’s dried grains in replacing groundnut cake in broiler chicks diets.Keywords: Broiler chicks, Groundnut cake, Urea, Fermented, Brewer’s dried grains

Assessment of Some Serum Metabolites and Enzymes of Broiler-Chickens Fed Raw and Processed Bambara Groundnut

3 Abstract: Sixty day-old broiler chicks were used in a 4-weeks feed trial to determine the status of raw , roasted and fermented bambara groundnut. The raw and processed bambara groundnuts were used as the sole source of protein in a basal broiler chick starter diet. Soybean based diet served as the control. There were four (4) experimental groups each made up of five birds in three replicates, allocated to th e experimental diets. Application of roasting and fermentation techniques were able to reduce the levels of some antinutrients in the bambara groundnut except for oxalate that increased significantly for the fermented sample. The results showed that the serum parameters like total protein, uric acid and creatinine levels indicated that both roasted and fermented based diet fed to the birds were unable to efficiently make available the nutrients in the diets to the birds. Serum transaminases (GOT and GPT) and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) showed significant (p<0.05) increase in the activity of the serum of birds fed on roasted and fermented bamabara groundnut based diet. It is therefore concluded that the quality of the protein of the raw and processed bambara groundnut based diet demonstrated inferiority relative to the soybean based diet.

Assessment of protein quality of processed melon seed as a component of poultry feed

Ninety six day - old broiler chicks were used in a 4 - week feeding trial to determine the protein quality of processed melon seed as a component of broiler chick diet. The protein quality was assessed using blood associated parameters including Haemoglobin indices and selected serum enzymes. The processed melon seed meals were Raw Melon Seed Meal (RMM), Fermented Melon Seed Meal (FMM) and Fermented Cooked Melon Seed Meal (FCMM). The three test ingredients (RMM, FMM and FCMM) were included as the sole source of protein in a basal broiler chick starter diet. The soybean seed meal (SBM) based commercial broiler chick starter diet served as the control. Blood associated parameters like Haemoglobin (Hb), PCV, RBC, WBC, Total Protein, Creatinine, Uric acid, GPT, GOT and ALP were used to assess the protein quality of the diets fed. There were four (4) experimental groups, each made up of eight birds in three replicates, allocated to the experimental diets (SBM (Control), RMM, FMM and FCMM) respectively. Of all the groups of broiler chicks, those placed on the FCMM diet gave blood associated parameters that were similar in value to those of the broiler chicks placed on the control (SBM) diet; while values obtained for broiler chicks placed on the other diets RMM and FMM were quite low. The results indicated that the processing of melon seeds by cooking and fermentation made the protein in melon seed more available to the broiler chicks, and also removed some or all of the antinutritional factors in raw melon seed. It is therefore concluded that the simultaneous processing of melon seed using cooking and fermentation techniques before its inclusion in broiler chick starter diets, enhances the protein quality and status of melon seed as a component of broiler starter diet.

Attenuation of gonadal response to photostimulation following ablation of neurons in the lateral septal organ of chicks

Many avian species in temperate zones respond to long photoperiods by showing recrudescence of gonads. Compelling evidence show that non-retinal, non-pineal photoreceptors exist in the avian brain. Within the ventral forebrain are specialized neurons that respond to light found in the medial portion of a circumventricular organ called the lateral septal organ (LSO). The objective of this study was to examine whether the integrity of the LSO was critical for rapid gonadal development in young male chicks placed under long day photostimulation. Birds were initially kept on a short photoperiod (LD 8:16) until 2 weeks of age, at which time bilateral electrolytic lesions were administered to the LSO. After surgery, birds were transferred to a long photoperiod (LD 16:8) and fed a chick starter diet containing 0.2% sulfamethazine (SMZ). The combination of a long day plus SMZ is known to stimulate sexual maturation in male chicks. In four separate experiments conducted to date, bilateral lesions directed to the LSO and lesions that missed and were placed caudal and ventral to the target resulted in a significant decrease in testes weight, compared to sham-operated controls ( P < 0.05). Results suggest that neurons in the LSO may be directly involved in responding to long photoperiods and stimulating gonadal development in broiler chicks.

A Comparative Study on the Efficiency of Locally Made Low Cost Brooders for Brooding Chicks

An experiment was carried out with day-old Sonali (♂RIR×♀Fayoumi) chicks to investigate the efficacy of locally made low cost brooders for brooding chicks in rural areas. Three types of indigenous brooders viz. charcoal, haricane and sawdust brooders were used for brooding chicks throughout the experimental period of 28 days. The efficiency of the brooders was observed in respect of their ability to maintain temperature, fluctuation in temperature during operation and cost effectiveness. Following initial trial of temperature maintenance for 48 h, the chicks were put under the brooder stoves and brooded up to 28 days. The experimental birds were fed on chick starter diet. Maintenance of temperature with sawdust brooders was found satisfactory and optimum for brooding the chicks at different stages of brooding and at the same time involved least cost for brooding in comparison with charcoal and haricane brooders which did not perform well in generating heat necessary for brooding and were not economically feasible for poor farmers. On the other hand, performance of charcoal brooders was better in respect of temperature maintenance during initial stage (when the brooder was started) but the temperature fluctuated rapidly, whereas fluctuation of temperature was gradual in sawdust brooders. Body weight gain and feed conversion were best in sawdust brooders. Survivability was highest in sawdust brooders and lowest in haricane brooders. Sawdust brooders may be appropriate for brooding chicks in rural areas, where electricity is not available. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 11 : 1586-1590)

Characterization of Alkaline Hydroxide-Preserved Whole Poultry as a Dry Byproduct Meal

Studies were conducted to examine the chemical preservation of whole broiler carcasses by using aqueous alkaline hydroxide solutions. Conversion of the preserved carcasses and solutions into an acceptable poultry byproduct meal was examined. Carcasses and alkaline solutions at a 1:1 ratio were blended and freeze-dried to produce a high fat whole poultry byproduct meal. The dry meal was analyzed for nutrient composition, true metabolizable energy, and amino acid content. Viable bacteria were not recovered after inoculation of the experimental meal with Salmonella enteritidis. The meal was incorporated at 5 and 10% of chick starter diets. Chicks found the meal-containing diets acceptable. Feed consumption, water consumption, BW, and mortality were not significantly different among the dietary treatments in either of the two feeding trials. Necropsy samples revealed no pathological or histological differences attributable to consumption of the alkaline poultry byproduct and blood serum evaluation found no variation in blood chemistry. Alkaline treatment of whole broiler carcasses was an effective preservation method and acceptable as a dry poultry byproduct meal.

The effects of triodothyronine and thymulin on avian NK cytolytic activity

The effects of triiodothyronine (T3), thymulin, and recombinant chicken interferon-γ (ChIFN-γ) on natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity was investigated using the euthyroid control K and the T3-deficient sex-linked dwarf (SLD) chicken strains. Factorial design experiments were used to investigate the effects of T3 treatments where animals of both strains received either 0 or 0.1 ppm T3 supplementation to the standard chick starter diet. The ChIFN-γ treatments were administered in vitro by incubation with effector cells overnight prior to the addition of the RP9 lymphoblastoma target cell line. All cytotoxicity assays were run at 50:1 and 25:1 effector/target ( E/ T) ratios. Treatments were begun at hatching and continued through 7 weeks. NK cells for these assays were enriched by separation of splenocytes over ficoll. Splenocyte preparations from untreated K strain consistently had significantly higher NK-mediated cytolysis than did samples from the untreated SLD at both E/ T ratios. T3 treatment alone had no effect on NK activity in cell preparations from the K strain but did significantly enhance that activity in the T3-deficient SLD whereas IFN treatment alone enhanced NK activity in both strains. The combined T3 and IFN treatments resulted in a greater enhancement of NK cytolytic activity in both strains than any separate treatment and resulted in an elimination of differences in NK cell responsiveness between the K and SLD strains. Similar results were obtained when NK cell cultures were incubated in vitro with thymulin prior to assessing cytotoxicity. In vitro thymulin treatments alone significantly enhanced cytolytic activity for NK cells for both K and SLD strains. The greatest effect of in vitro thymulin exposure was to increase the responsiveness to NK cells to ChIFN-γ stimulation.

Tissue Distribution of Gossypol Enantiomers in Broilers Fed Various Cottonseed Meals

Plasma and tissue concentrations of total, (+)- and (-)-gossypol were determined in broilers fed cottonseed meals (CSM) from eight oil mills (five expander solvent, two expeller, and one direct solvent). Free gossypol in the meals ranged from 0.033 to 0.180%, and total gossypol ranged from 0.974 to 1.459%. The (+)-enantiomer of gossypol varied from 53.8 to 61.3% of total gossypol. Eight CSM diets containing 28% CSM and a soybean meal control diet were fed to 162 1-d-old male broiler chicks during a 3-wk starter period. Concentrations of free gossypol in the CSM diets ranged from 92 to 504 μg/g, and total gossypol ranged from 2,626 to 4,085 μg/g. All diets were formulated with the same concentrations of digestible lysine and methionine and were fed ad libitum. At 21 d of age, there were no significant differences in body weights, feed conversions, or mortality of birds fed the CSM diets when compared to birds fed the soybean meal diet. Concentrations of (+)- and (-)-gossypol in plasma, liver, kidney, and muscle increased linearly as the level of free gossypol increased in the diets. Liver had the highest concentration of total gossypol (71.4 to 313.6 μg/g DM) followed by kidney (9.2 to 36.3 μg/g DM), plasma (3.0 to 14.6 μg/mL), and muscle (2.1 to 9.8 μg/g DM). The proportion of (−)-gossypol was higher in plasma (26.7%) and kidney (25.6%) than in muscle (19.1%) and liver (16.0%). Performance data from this study indicate CSM can be used successfully in chick starter diets at levels up to 28% when diets are formulated on a digestible amino acid basis.

Estimation of an acceptable β-glucan level for broiler chick diets

An experiment was conducted to estimate the maximum amount of β-glucan that can be included in a broiler chick starter diet without impairing performance. Oat bran and fat were substituted for corn in a corn–soy diet to provide iso-energetic β-glucan levels of 6.3, 9 and 31 g kg−1 diet. Performance criteria were analyzed for regression on β-glucan level. Impairment of performance was greater for weight gain (W, g day−1) than for excreta condition or feed efficiency. An acceptable dietary β-glucan (G) level (g kg−1) was identified with the predicted performance equal to that of the control diet, from the response surface, W = 28.2 + 0.117 G − 0.00951 G2. Growth impairment was predicted to appear in young broiler chicks only as β-glucan level is increased in iso-energetic diets above 12.3 ± 0.46 g kg−1; conversely 1 and 2% growth inhibitions were predicted when dietary β-glucan levels equal 14.4 and 16.0 g kg−1, respectively. Key words: β-glucan, oats, chick, growth inhibition

Protein requirement of fast‐ and slow‐growing chicks

1. Responses of male broiler chicks and male chicks of an egg-laying stock to dietary crude protein (CP) concentrations ranging from 167 to 251 g/kg (metabolisable energy content 13 MJ/kg) were compared from 0 to 21 d of age, using 20 groups of 9 or 10 chicks (5 diets x 2 stocks x 2 replicates). 2. Average growth rate in the broilers was three times that of the layer chicks. The broilers needed at least 251 g CP/kg to maximise their liveweight gain but the layer chicks needed only about 188 g CP/kg. 3. The broiler chicks ate less than twice as much food as the layers and their maximum gain/food ratio was 0.6 compared with 0.4 for the layer chicks. These maximum efficiencies of conversion of food to liveweight were achieved in both cases with a diet containing 230 g CP/kg. 4. The efficiency of protein utilisation (above maintenance) was the same in fast- and slow-growing genotypes (about 0.47 g protein gain/g protein consumed). 5. Carcase analysis at 3 weeks of age showed that the broilers had deposited more fat than the layers and that protein content of the diet had markedly influenced fat deposition in both stocks. Fat in the whole body increased from 29 to 87 g/kg in the layer chicks and from 81 to 123 g/kg in the broilers as dietary protein was reduced from 251 to 167 g/kg. 6. The optimum protein to energy ratio of a chick starter diet will depend on the growth potential of the stock, as well as the cost of ingredients and the value of fatter or leaner carcases.

Chemical composition and nutritive value of ghee residue for chickens

Ghee residue, a by-product of the dairy industry, was found to be a good source of protein and energy, containing in dry matter 25.8% crude protein, 50.8% fat, 12.3% lactose, 14.4 MJ of apparent ME g −1, 16.5 MJ of true ME kg −1, 43.7 gross protein value, 8.98% ash, 0.88% calcium, 0.50% phosphorus, 14.4% nitrogen free extract and no crude fibre. Replacing about 40% of dietary protein in a chick starter diet with ghee residue protein resulted in poor growth rate, feed efficiency and nitrogen retention, but increased the liver weight and carcass and liver fat contents. However, lysine and methionine supplementation improved the growth rate, feed efficiency and carcass nitrogen retention, and reduced the liver and carcass fat contents, but methionine supplementation alone was not effective in improving these traits, except the liver and carcass fat contents. Lysine appeared to be the first limiting amino acid in ghee residue. Ghee residue appeared to be a potential high protein and high energy feed ingredient for poultry and could be incorporated in chick starter diets at up to 35.4% without any adverse effect, if supplemented with lysine and methionine.

Subcellular distribution of dietary beta-carotene in chick liver.

Studies were conducted examining the subcellular distribution of beta-carotene (BC), alpha-tocopherol (E) and retinol (A) in livers of control and BC-fed male White Leghorn chicks. Chicks were fed Cornell B chick starter diet with or without the addition of 0.5 g BC/kg diet. A first study involved liver fractionation by differential centrifugation in 0.25 M sucrose followed by high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analyses of all fractions for quantitation of BC, E and A. A second study employed both intravenous injection of Triton WR-1339 four days prior to sacrifice and centrifugation in 1.0 M sucrose to separate mitochondria from lysosomes more efficiently. Fraction purity was assessed by marker enzyme analyses. Results showed that chick liver accumulated BC; BC-fed chicks had higher concentrations of BC in all fractions relative to controls, and the mitochondrial fraction contained the highest concentration of BC, followed by lysosomes, microsomes and nuclei, respectively. Plasma BC increased more than fivefold in BC-fed chicks. Dietary BC increased A and E levels in liver and in the mitochondrial and lysosomal fractions while the plasma E level was decreased. Plasma A changed little with BC feeding. While dietary BC had no effect on fatty acid composition of subcellular fractions, the increase in E resulted in a large increase in the molar ratio of E to polyunsaturated fatty acids. The incorporation of BC and increased amounts of E into cellular membranes presumably would result in increased resistance to peroxidative damage.

Tibial Dyschondroplasia in Single-Comb White Leghorn Chicks Fed Tetramethylthiuram Disulfide (A Fungicide)

Supplementing a practical chick starter diet with 30 mg tetramethylthiuram disulfide per kg of diet produced tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) in single-comb white leghorn chicks without compromising growth or bone mineralization. The incidence and severity of the lesion increased over time, with the highest incidence (40%) occurring in 4-week-old chickens. Microscopically, the lesion was consistent with the description of TD in broilers. This is the first known report of TD in the layer-type chick, which heretofore was felt to be highly resistant to TD.

Bioenergetics of captive Belding's savannah sparrows ( Passerculus sanwichensis beldingi)

1. 1. The basal metabolic rate ( BMR) of Belding's savannah sparrows averaged 1.48 ± 0.07 kJ/g·day and the standard metabolic rate ( SMR) below thermoneutrality was best described by the equation y = 4.5 − 0.1 x where y equals SMR in kJ/g·day and x ambient temperature in °C. 2. 2. Thermal conductance between 5 and 30°C averaged 4.75 ± 0.04 J/°C·g·hr and was higher than most other published accounts for temperate species. 3. 3. During existence energy trials on two different diets, savannah sparrows ingested more energy as temperature decreased and more energy on the chick starter diet; the equations y = 7.3 − 0.14 x and y = 7.0 − 0.14 x expressed the relationship of energy intake vs temperature for the chick starter diet and mealworm diet, respectively, where y = kJ/g·day. 4. 4. We found no differences in the relationship between existence energy and temperature for the two diets and thus we combined the data; the equation y = 5.1 − 0.1 x described the relationship between existence energy and ambient temperature (0–30° C). 5. 5. Sparrows metabolized more of the available energy on the mealworm diet ( c. 75%) than the chick starter diet ( c. 69%).

Supplementation of groundnut‐based broiler chick diets with pyridoxine

1. Broiler chicks fed on a semi‐purified diet containing 230 g crude protein and less than 5 mg pyridoxine/kg had poor growth rates and high mortality. 2. When a milled, unsupplemented diet based on rice and groundnut was fed, food utilisation, carcass fat content and serum aspartate amino transferase [EG 2.6.1.1] activity indicated the need for supplementation with at least 3 mg pyridoxine, or a total concentration of 8.8 mg/kg diet. 3. With a maize‐groundnut diet body‐weight gain, food intake and tissue aspartate aminotransferase activities suggested that dietary supplementation with pyridoxine was unnecessary, but food utilisation indicated a need for supplementation with 3 mg or a total intake of 9 mg pyridoxine/ kg diet. 4. A practical broiler chick starter diet was used to show that the total concentration of pyridoxine should be at least 7.2 mg/kg when maize‐groundnut diets are fed.