Growth Performance, Hematology and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chicks Fed Diets with Varying Energy Levels

Three hundred and eighty-four unsexed Anak broiler chicks raised from day-old to 28 days of age were used to evaluate the effects of different dietary energy levels on their growth performance, hematology and carcass characteristics. The experiment was of a completely randomized design (CRD). The diets for the starter were isonitrogenous. There were 3 dietary energy treatments (2786.80, 3015.40 and 3252.20 kcal/kg) and 4 replicates per treatment with 32 chicks per replicate. Birds were randomly selected and slaughtered for carcass and hematological analysis. The feed intake and live weight of the birds were determined weekly. Birds fed the 3252.20 kcal/kg energy diet had the highest (P<0.05) final weight, average weight gain and total weight gain. The lowest (P<0.05) Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was recorded for birds fed the 3252.20 kcal/kg energy diet. The Packed Cell Volume (PCV), though not statistically significant, increases linearly with increase in dietary energy. Birds fed diets containing 3252.20 kcal/kg energy recorded the highest (P<0.05) abdominal fat, gizzard and eviscerated weight. The results, however, indicated that the cost of feed per unit weight gain was lowest in High energy diet followed by Optimum and Low energy diets respectively.