Replacement of Maize by Other Cereals on Performance of Pratapdhan Chicks

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of replacing maize quantitatively at 50 per cent level with broken rice, bajra, jowar or barley in isocaloric and isonitrogenous ration on  250 day old, 50 Pratapdhan chicks each group divided in to five groups,  for 8 weeks. Significantly higher body weight and weight gain was observed in broken rice fed groups as compared to other treatments groups. Body weight and weight gain of maize, broken rice and bajra fed groups were significantly higher as compared to jowar and barley fed groups. Difference between broken rice and bajra fed groups and also between maize and bajra fed groups was not significant. The FCR at 8 weeks of age in different treatments ranged between 3.01 to 3.09 and differences were statistically non significantly. The dry matter digestibility 50.75, 54.44, 52.82 51.15 and 52.44 %, protein efficiency ratio was 1.27, 1.21,1.26 1.21 and 1.28 and efficiency of   energy utilization were 9.56, and 9.35,9.25 9.85 and 9.58 Kcal/g weight gain, respectively in the five groups. It  was concluded that maize could be replaced with either broken rice, bajra or jowar at 50 percent level in the pratapdhan chick  ration.   The cost of ration per unit gain of body weight was minimum (Rs. 16.42) on T₂ groups.