Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal-637 001.
* A part of M.V.Sc, thesis submitted by the first author to the Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai-51.
To evaluate the optimum protein requirement for White Leghorn growers a biological experiment was conducted on 185 White Leghorn growers from 9 to 20 weeks of age with isocaloric diets (2500 Kcal MElkg) containing 16% CP, 15% CP+Lys+Met, 15%'CP, 14% CP+Lys+Met and 14% CP. There was no significant difference in terms of feed intake, feed conversion ratio, blood parameters and carcass qualities at 20th week of age among the various treatment groups. However, body weight gain was significantly higher in 14% CP+Lys+Met fed group, but the egg mass produced was significantly lower in both 14% CP+Lys+Met and 14% CP fed groups. Total-N and uric acid-N excretion were significantly reduced and % nitrogen retention was significantly higher in low protein fed groups. While comparing egg production from 21 to 25 weeks of age, when all the treatment groups were fed with layer diet containing 18% CP and 2700 Kcal ME/kg, the hen-day egg production and egg mass produced were significantly poor in 14% CP fed group. Egg qualities were not influenced by the rearing dietary regimens. It is concluded that diet containing 14%; CP+Lys+Met was optimum for White Leghorn growers.
White Leghorn growers, protein, lysine, methionine
