32
A. J. Macdonald and S. Bose
the case Groups I and II, resulted in a
certain amount of mortality.
The results obtained with the low pro-
tein diet in this experiment as regards
rates of growth, food utilization and mor-
tality are very much better than those
reported by Macdonald [1941] on a simi-
lar low protein diet. In this experiment,
however, the birds received a good initial
diet from 0-1 week and it is very probable
that this good start might have exerted a
very beneficial influence on the subsequent
behaviour of the chicks.
The rate of growth and food utilization
figures for Groups I and II were very
similar. Whilst Group II had lower
mortality than Group I, it would be unsafe
to conclude from this that the addition of
salt lowered mortality, since both groups
were similar in appearance at all stages.
The failure of the addition of salt to give
any response is somewhat surprising in
view of the proved value of salt supple-
ments in rations containing only vegetable
proteins. Mitchell and Carman [1926]
demonstrated that the addition of common
salt to a diet mainly composed of maize
greatly improved its value. Prentice and
Baskett [1932] and Prentice [1933] found
that salt was very beneficial in the diet
of chickens. Robertson, Orr, Prentice and
Macdonald [1930] demonstrated that a
supplement of salt was very beneficial in
diets containing vegetable proteins only.
In this experiment, however, the protein
level of the ration was lower than that in
the experiments reviewed here. Further-
more, the liberal feeding of berseem, which
is relatively rich in both sodium and chlo-
rine, should have helped to make good any
deficiency of both sodium and chlorine in
the cereals. Robertson, Orr, Prentice
and Macdonald [1930] also reported the
beneficial value of clover in a vegetable
protein diet containing no salt supple-
ment.
During the major part of the experi-
ment, the chickens on the separated milk
diet were slightly heavier than those of
the meat diet. On the other hand, the mea
group made on the average slightly better
utilization of the food consumed. As it
previous work, Macdonald and Bose
[1943] obtained slightly better growth
results from meat offal, further exper
ments will have to be carried out prior to
making any final conclusion in regard to
the relative values of separated milk and
meat offal in the diet of growing chick
As the unit of protein in meat offal
normally cheaper than that in separate
milk it is, however, safe to conclude that
meat offal could often be profitably use
in place of milk in the diet of chikens.
CONCLUSIONS
(1) A mixed cereal diet with a protein
content of 10.8 per cent plus liberal
amounts of green food and calcium
unsatisfactory for growing chicken
especially in the early stages of growth.
(2) Little or no benefit is derived
supplementing the above diet with commo
salt.
(3) Separated milk and meat offal a
valuable protein supplements for chicken
(4) Meat offal can often be used ve
profitably as a substitute for separate
milk in the diet of chicks.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors wish to express apprecia
tion to Mr Mohd. Athar Ali, for valu
able assistance relating to the statistic
treatment of the data.
REFERENCES
Macdonald, A. J. (1941). Indian J. vet. Sci. 11 207
—(1943).
Indian J. vet.
Sci. 13, 214.-18
—and
Bose S. (1943).
Author please complete the reference
Mitchell, H. H. and Garman, G. G. (1926). J. biol Ch
68, 165
Prentice, J. H. and Baskoft T. G. (1932). J. Agric
Ireland 3, 1
Prentice, J. H. (1933). J. Agric. N. Ireland 4, 1
Robertson, G., Orr, J. B., Prentice, J. H. and Macdonald
A. J. (1930). Scott. J. Agric. 13, 1