Poultry sector, the second largest industry of Pakistan, is growing exponentially to fulfill the growing needs of meat and eggs. Although poultry sector has shown incredible growth rate during the past decade; however, there is still gap between poultry meat demand and supply. Every living animal has a need for protein. It is the basic structural material from which all body tissues are formed. Dietary protein and metabolize-able energy content has re-emerged as a topic of interest and importance over the last few years mainly due to environmental concerns. Availability of balanced and economical ration has great importance in broiler production. Feed cost is the single most important factor, which accounts more than 70 percent of total cost in poultry production. The challenge for nutritionist and production managers is not only to provide a feed cheaper to a maximum possible level, but also to maximize profitability, because performance of the bird depends upon a broad range of dietary nutrients.
Two hundred day old chicks were purchased from the commercial hatchery. On the first day all chicks were weighed and were separated into 4 dietary treatment groups in completely randomized design so that each experimental treatment consist of 5 replicates having 10 chicks in each replicates in this way each treatment consist of total 50 chicks(4x5x10=200). Feeder and waterer were clean before start of experiment and were cleaned regularly till the end of experiment. Feed and water which were provided throughout experiment were clean, Ad libitum and completely hygenized.
Four experimental diets were prepared according to the Aviagen Recommendation (2012) but the level of ME in all groups were different, HD feed with ME (3000-3200 Kcal/Kg) and CP (19-24 %), MD feed with ME (2900-3100 Kcal/Kg) and CP (19-23), ND feed with ME (2800- 3000 Kcal/Kg) and CP (19-23 %) and LD feed with ME (2700-2900 Kcal/Kg) and CP (18-23 %) respectively. Data were collected for different parameters of growth performance, carcass traits and blood TG and HDL in mg/dl, respectively. The economics of each treatment was analyzed at the end data was analyzed through Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with use of Completely Randomized Design.
The highest weight gain (1862.4± 106.56) was observed in group HD having (ME: 3000 Kcal/Kg in Starter ration, 3100 Kcal/Kg in grower ration and 3200 Kcal/Kg in finisher ration) and lowest (2974.6±26.96) was observed in group LD having (ME: 2700 Kcal/Kg in Starter ration, 2800 Kcal/Kg in grower ration and 2900 Kcal/Kg in finisher ration) at 35 days of age. Overall result showed that there was significantly decline in weight gain with decreasing level of ME in diet .Statistical analysis showed that all treatments in starter and finisher rations were different (P≤0.05) except in finisher ration.
Carcass traits were non-significant (p > 0.05) to each other throughout experiment. Dressing percentage of broilers of different treatment groups was highest (60.38±7.90) in MD group and lowest was observed in LD feed group (54.6±10.37). Dressing percentage was increased as the level of metabolize-able energy increased in diets.
The highest blood Triglyceride level (36.3±2.5) was observed in HD group and lowest (29.5±3.92) was observed in ND group. Statistical analysis showed that there was a strong significant difference (P≤0.05) among all these treatment. Same results were found in case of HDL levels in blood. Data analysis proved that MD feed was most economical with good results.