EFFECT OF CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS LEVELS ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the influence of varying levels of calcium (Ca) and available phosphorus (aP) on growth performance and carcass yield of growing broiler chickens. A total of 360 twenty-one-day old broiler chicks were assigned to twelve dietary treatments in a 4 <3 factorial design comprising of four Ca levels (0.6%, 0.75%, 0.9% and 1.2%) and three aP levels (0.25%, 0.35% and 0.45%). Each treatment groups consisted of 30 birds each and each treatment had three replicates of ten birds and the study lasted for thirty five days. The highest (p < 0.05) daily feed intake was observed for birds on 1.2% Ca: 0.35% aP treatment group and birds fed 1.2% Ca: 0.45% aP had the highest (p < 0.05) final body weight (1979 g/bird) and daily weight gain (46 g/bird; which were similar to those of birds on 0.6% Ca and 0.35%aP and 1.2% Ca: 0.35% aP levels) comparedto the other treatment groups. This feed conversion ratio followed the trend observed for final body weight and daily weight gain. The dressing weight increased as the Ca levels increased byt Ca and aP levels had no significant effect on othercarcass portions. It was concluded that 0.6% Ca and 0.35% aP levels and a Ca/aP ratio of 1.7: 1may be adequate for performance in growing broiler chickens.