Proteins for chickens
31
TABLE III
Percentage protein consumed
Serial
No.
1
2
3
4
5
Period
(1-5 weeks) ..
(5-9 weeks) ..
(9-13 weeks)..
(13-17 weeks)..
(17-21 weeks)
Group
I
10.9
10.9
10.8
10.8
10.8
Group
II
10.9
10.8
10.8
10.8
10.8
Group
III
16.0
16.0
14.5
13.6
12.7
Group
IV
16.8
16.5
15.2
13.8
13.0
The percentage protein consumption
figures for Groups I and II are practically
dentical throughout and are in all cases
considerably lower than those recorded
for Groups III and IV. The protein con-
sumption figures for Groups III and IV
are fairly comparable throughout but on
the average the protein level was slightly
higher for Group IV. The percent-
age of protein in the food consumed by
Group III started off at an initial level
of 16.0 in period 1 and fell to 12.7 per cent
in period 5. The corresponding figures
for Group IV were 16.8 and 13.0.
Mortality. Table IV gives a statement
of mortality percentages for each period
and the total mortality in each group for
the whole experiment.
TABLE IV
Mortality percentages (1-21 weeks)
Period
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Total
Group I
1.35
4.05
7.69
11.90
..
24.99
Group II
..
4.05
7.02
1.92
1.92
14.91
Group III
1.35
1.35
..
..
..
2.7
Goup IV
..
4.05
..
..
..
4.05
The general health of the birds in
Groups I and II as judged by handling
and appearance was consistently poorer
than that of Groups III and IV. The
general health of the birds in Groups III
and IV was consistently good throughout
the experiment. The total mortality per-
centages in Groups I and II were much
higher, being 24.99 and 14.91 respectively,
while the corresponding figures for Groups
III and IV were 2.7 aud 4.05 respec-
tively.
DISCUSSION
The rate of growth of the birds in both
the groups without protein supplements
was very much lower than that of the two
groups receiving the protein supplements.
The slow rate of growth in Groups I and
II was most marked during periods 1 and 2
(1-9 weeks), so in the period when the
demand for protein is at a maximum. The
food utilization figures for the non-protein
supplemented groups during periods 1
and 2 were much inferior to those in the
corresponding periods for the protein
supplemented groups. Throughout the
whole experiment the general health and
appearance of the birds in Groups I and
II were much inferior to those of Groups
III ahd IV. The mortality in all groups
was low until the end of the second period.
As would be expected with chickens reared
under good environmental conditions, no
death occurred in the protein supple-
mented groups for 9-21 weeks. On the
other hand, Groups I and II both suffered
substantial mortality from nine weeks on-
wards. The low mortality in Groups I
and II during the initial eight weeks of
the experiment period seems rather
surprising in view of the low protein
content of the ration. The low mortality
during this period
can partly be
attributed to all the birds having received
well balanced rations for one week prior
to commencing the experiment. Further-
more, during this period of eight weeks,
the birds were well protected against the
weather and thus did not receive any
further check except that imposed by the
diets fed. From 9-21 weeks, however, all
the groups were placed outside in houses
which were more exposed to weather
conditions and this, in addition to the
cumulative effect of deficient feeding in