Effects of dietary metabolizable energy and crude protein concentrations on growth performance and carcass characteristics of French guinea broilers

• Published in: Poultry science 2005-02, Vol.84 (2), p.337-344
• Main Authors: Nahashon, S N, Adefope, N, Amenyenu, A, Wright, D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animals; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Proteins - metabolism; Energy Intake - physiology; Feeding Behavior; Female; Galliformes - growth & development; Male; Weight Gain
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.1093/ps/84.2.337

This study was undertaken to assess dietary CP and ME concentrations for optimum growth performance and carcass characteristics of French guinea broilers. In a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, 396 1-d-old French guinea keets were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 3,050, 3,100, and 3,150 kcal of ME/kg of diet; each contained 21, 23, and 25% CP, respectively, from 0 to 4 wk of age (WOA). From 5 to 8 WOA, experimental diets had 3,100, 3,150, and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet, and each contained 19, 21, and 23% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 3 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly, whereas carcass characteristics were evaluated at 8 WOA. For the most part, birds on 3,100 and 3,150 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 0 to 4 WOA exhibited greater (P < 0.05) BW gain, greater carcass and breast weights (P < 0.05), and lower (P < 0.05) feed consumption and feed conversion ratios (FCR) than those on a diet with 3,050 kcal of ME/kg. Mean feed consumption of birds fed 25% CP diets was higher (P < 0.05) than those on other dietary CP concentrations. Mean BW gain, FCR, and carcass and breast weights of birds fed 25 and 23% CP diets from 0 to 4 WOA were not different (P > 0.05), but they were better (P < 0.05) than those of birds on 21% CP diets. Positive correlations (P < 0.01) were noted between live weight and weight of carcass, breast, thigh, drumstick, and wing of guinea broilers. Thus, diets with 3,100 kcal of ME/kg and 23% CP or with 3,150 kcal of ME/kg and 21% CP at 0 to 4 WOA and 5 to 8 WOA, respectively, were used more efficiently by French guinea broilers.