Growth Performance of Native Chickens in the Grower Phase Fed Methionine and Lysine-Supplemented Cafeteria Standard Feed

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of cafeteria standard feed supplemented with methionine and lysine on the growth performance of native chickens during the grower phase (6-14 weeks). Methodology: A total of 240 six week-old native chickens were randomly divided into 4 treatments and 4 replications, with 15 birds in each replicate. The dietary treatments were: T₀ (feed based on cafeteria standard), T₁ (feed based on protein standard of NRC), T₂ (cafeteria feed+0.10% methionine+0.25% lysine), T₃ (cafeteria feed+0.23% methionine+0.55% lysine). Feed consumption, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured over the 8 week growing period. At the end of the feeding trial, 32 birds were slaughtered and carcass percentages were determined. Results: Feed consumption of T₀, T₁, T₂ and T₃ were 2,671, 2,628, 2,722 and 2,805 g/bird/8 weeks, respectively. The body weight gain for the respective treatments was 692, 677, 747 and 780 g/bird/8 weeks whereas the feed conversion ratio was 3.86, 3.70, 3.65 and 3.60. The percentage of carcass for the four treatments was 59.50, 59.66, 61.36 and 61.55%, respectively. Conclusion: Treatment T₃ that had supplementation with 0.23% methionine and 0.55% lysine produced the best growth performance.