Dietary Lysine Requirement for Optimal Productivity and Carcass Characteristics of Growing Indigenous Venda Chicken

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the levels of dietary lysine requirements for optimal productivity and carcass characteristics of growing indigenous Venda chicken from 1–13 wks of age involving 200 unsexed day-old indigenous Venda chicks during first experiment and 160 female chicks during the second experiment. In each feed trial, the chicks were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments with varying lysine levels L6 (0.6%), L8 (0.8%), L10 (1.0%) and L12 (1.2%) in a completely randomized design. L-Lysine-HCl at the expense of inert filler (sand) was used to balance the diet. The initial LW of the birds were taken and at weekly intervals thereafter. At 91d of age all the chickens in each pen were slaughtered and the carcass and haematological parameters determined. Results showed that feed intake, growth rate at the starter and growing phases were influenced (P<0.05) by dietary lysine level. Carcass weight, dressing percentage, breast meat and drumstick weights were also influenced (P<0.05) by dietary lysine level. However, dietary lysine level had no effect (P>0.05) on FCR, metabilosable energy and mortality at starter and growing phases. Furthermore, thigh, wings, fat pad weights and haematological parameters were not influenced (P>0.05) by the dietary lysine treatments. Dietary lysine levels of 0.97 and 1.07% DM optimized feed intake and growth rate at the starter phase, respectively. While dietary lysine levels of 0.82 and 0.94 % DM optimized feed intake and growth rate, respectively, at the growing phase. Dietary lysine levels of 0.91, 0.96, 0.98 and 0.93% DM optimized carcass weight, dressing percentage, breast meat and drumstick weights, respectively. These results have implications on ration formulation for indigenous chickens.