Welcome to Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin,

Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2013, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (35): 23-28.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.2013-1534

Special Issue: 生物技术 畜牧兽医

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Effects of Low-Protein Diets on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indices and Fecal Nitrogen of Chinese Color-feathered Chicken

  

  • Received:2013-06-03 Revised:2013-07-12 Online:2013-12-15 Published:2013-12-15

Abstract: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of low-protein diets on growth performance, serum biochemical indices and fecal nitrogen content of Chinese color-feathered chicken. Two hundred and twenty five one-day-old Chinese color-feathered chickens were randomly allocated to 3 groups with 5 replicates per group and 15 chickens per replicate. Chickens were fed with 2-phase (1 to 28 days of age and 29 to 56 days of age). Three diets were formulated for each phase. The control group fed diets with crude protein level of 21% during 1 to 28 days of age and 18% during 29 to 56 days of age. The experimental groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ fed diets with the crude protein levels 1 and 2 percentages less than the control diet, respectively. But the essential amino acids were equal to the control group diet by supplementing crystalline amino acids. This experiment lasted 56 days, The results showed as follows: (1)There were no significant differences in average daily feed intake, average daily gain and feed/gain among 3 groups during 1 to 28, 29 to 56 and 1 to 56 days of age (P>0.05). (2) At 28 and 56 days of old, no significant differences in serum total protein, urea nitrogen contents and uric acid were found among 3 groups (P>0.05). (3) Compared with the control group, the fecal nitrogen content in experimental groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ was significantly reduced by 5.98% and 11.23% in 1 to 28 days of age and by 8.09% and 11.88% in 29 to 56 days of age (P<0.05), respectively. It was concluded that reducing dietary crude protein level 1 to 2 percentages have no significant effects on growth performance and serum biochemical indices, while significantly decrease fecal nitrogen content of Chinese color-feathered chicken under the premise of meeting the amino acid requirements.