COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF LOW AND HIGH PROTEIN DIETS ON FINISHER BROILER PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Small-scale farmers that face challenges in birds disposal during market saturation, leading to diet change. This study compares low and high protein diets impact on finisher broiler performance. Five dietary treatments with varying protein levels (16%, 17%, 18%, 19% and 20%) were formulated. The 20% diet served as control. Ninety (90) finisher broilers aged 28 day were used and they were divided into the 5 dietary treatments, each treated had 18 birds replicated 3 times. The design used was a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly and the abdominal fat was determined after sacrificing 2 randomly selected birds from each replicate. Broilers fed 16% 17% and 18% crude protein diets showed better weight gain and feed conversion ratio but higher abdominal fat than those fed 19% and 20% crude protein diet. Therefore, it is recommended that to produce broiler with reduced abdominal fat, they diet should not be lower than 19%.