Performance of Vanaraja chicken on diets containing different concentrations of metabolizable energy at constant ratio with other essential nutrients during juvenile phase

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying dietary energy concentrations on performance of Vanaraja chicken during juvenile phase of life. Three hundred and fifteen straight run day-old chicks were divided at random into 7 groups of nine replicates each. Chicks in each of the 7 groups were fed one of the diet containing ME ranging from 2200 to 2800 kcal/kg diet from day one to 42 days of age. The concentrations of other essential nutrients (crude protein, methionine, lysine, calcium and non-phytate phosphorus) were adjusted to maintain constant ration with ME at all energy levels tested. At 42 days of age, the body weight reduced significantly (P 2600 kcal/kg diet). Considering the weight gain and cost of production, it can be concluded that Vanaraja chicks need 2400 ME kcal/kg diet for optimum performance during 1 - 42 d of age.