Response of feeding different levels of supplemental manganese on growth performance and carcass yield of CARI-Devendra dual purpose chicks

An experiment was conducted on day-old CARI Devendra dual purpose chicks (n=160) to study the response of feeding different levels of supplemental manganese (Mn) on growth performance and carcass quality traits. A maize, soyabean meal and deoiled rice bran based basal diet having all the nutrients in required quantities (except manganese) was prepared. This basal diet on analysis, was found to contain 30 mgMn/kg coming naturally from feed ingredients. Four other experimental diets were formulated by the addition of desired levels of manganese sulphate into the basal diet to obtain 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg Mn/kg diet. Each of such diets was offered as mash ad libitum to four replicated groups of 8 chicks each housed in battery brooder cages for a period of (0–8 wks) age. Results indicated that the body weight gain and feed intake did not differ significantly (P<0.05) due to different dietary Mn-levels during 0–6, 6–8 and 0–8 wks of growth phases. Significantly (P<0.05) better feed conversion ratio was observed at 40 mg and 60 mg Mn/kg than other dietary Mn levels during 0–6 wks growth phase. During 6–8 wks growth phase, significantly (P<0.05) poor feed conversion ratio was observed at 100 mg Mn/kg than other Mn levels in the diets. However, during overall growth phase (0–8 wks) significantly (P<0.05) better feed conversion ratio was observed at 40 and 60 mg Mn/kg diet than other levels of Mn in diet. The hock circumference did not differ significantly due to different levels of Mn in the diet during both growth phases. The various carcass quality traits (feather loss, dressed weight, giblet, heart, liver and gizzard weights) also did not differ significantly due to different dietary Mn levels. Based on the results, it is concluded that a dietary level of 40 mgMn/kg was found optimum for growth performance and carcass quality traits in CARI Devendra dual purpose chicks.