Influence of Varying Dietary Energy and Protein on Growth and Carcass Characteristics of Ugandan Local Chickens

The effect of feeding regime on growth performance and carcass characteristics of local chicken cockerels was assessed. Eight week old cockerels were assigned to six dietary treatments in a 2x3 factorial arrangement with two protein levels (18 and 20% CP) and three energy levels (2800, 2900 and 3000kcal/kg ME). Each treatment comprised of three replicates with ten birds each. The birds were reared in a deep litter house. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The birds were individually weighed after every fortnight. At 16 weeks of age, four cockerels from each replicate were randomly selected and slaughtered. Dressing percentage, carcass yield, relative weights of carcass portions and organs and organoleptic properties were assessed. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and energy efficiency of cockerels were not significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the dietary regimes. However, at the 2800 kcal/kg ME energy level, an increase in CP from 18% to 20% resulted in a decline in body weight gain. An increase in dietary energy from 2800 kcal/kg to 3000kcal/kg did not affect weight gain. Varying dietary energy and protein had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on carcass portion yield and slaughter characteristics of local chickens. The data suggests that the 2800 kcal/kg ME and 18% CP diet was sufficient for growing Ugandan local chicken cockerels.