Trop Anim Health Prod (2012) 44:1653–1658
DOI 10.1007/s11250-012-0120-6
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effect of feeding different levels of energy and protein
on performance of Aseel breed of chicken
during juvenile phase
Santosh Haunshi & Arun Kumar Panda &
Ullengala Rajkumar & Mahendra Kumar Padhi &
Mattam Niranjan & Rudra Nath Chatterjee
Accepted: 19 March 2012 / Published online: 29 March 2012
# Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012
Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of
feeding different metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein
(CP) levels on performance of Aseel chicken during 0 to
8 weeks of age (Juvenile phase). At 1 day old, 432 chicks were
randomly distributed into nine groups. Each group had 48
chicks distributed into eight replicates with six birds in each.
Maize–soybean meal-based diets with three ME levels (2,400,
2,600 and 2,800 kcal/kg) and three CP levels (16%, 18% and
20%) were fed to birds in a 3×3 factorial design. Different ME
levels had significant effect on body weight gain (BWG), feed
intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Birds fed diet with
2,400 kcal/kg ME had significantly lower BWG (P<0.004),
lower shank length (P<0.0007), higher feed intake (P<
0.0001) and poor FCR (P<0.0001) than those fed diet with
either 2,600 or 2,800 kcal/kg ME. Energy efficiency ratio was
not influenced by ME, CP or their interaction. However, protein
efficiency ratio was significantly higher at higher ME levels and
lower at higher CP levels. There was significant effect of ME,
CP and their interaction on serum protein and cholesterol levels.
However, they made no significant effect on antibody titre
against New Castle disease vaccine. The study concluded that
provision of 2,600 kcal/kg ME and 16% CP would be ideal for
optimum growth of Aseel birds during juvenile phase. Howev-
er, to obtain better FCR, feeding Aseel birds with diet having
2,800 kcal/kg ME and 16% CP would be ideal.
Keywords Aseel . Energy . Protein . Performance .
Juvenile phase
S. Haunshi (*) : A. K. Panda : U. Rajkumar : M. K. Padhi :
M. Niranjan : R. N. Chatterjee
Project Directorate on Poultry,
Rajendranagar,
Hyderabad 500030, Andhra Pradesh, India
e-mail: santoshi575@yahoo.com
Introduction
Indigenous chicken breeds of India are being given impor-
tance due to their unique attributes like hardiness and trop-
ical adaptability. Aseel is one such important native breed of
India that is being reared in its native tract (Andhra Pradesh)
for game and meat purposes. This breed is recognized for its
high stamina, majestic gait, disease tolerance and adaptabil-
ity to adverse climatic conditions (Singh 2009). Usually,
these native chickens are reared under free-range or semi-
intensive systems in villages or rural areas. However, in
recent years, these chickens are being reared under intensive
system, particularly during initial period of 0 to 8 weeks of
age (juvenile phase). These native chickens are also being
genetically improved for production traits through selective
breeding programs in order to develop newer varieties for
rural or tribal areas and hence they are being reared in
intensive system. In view of escalation of prices of feed
ingredients, efficient utilization of feed for optimum produc-
tion of native chickens is a prerequisite. Therefore, it is
pertinent to know the precise nutrient requirements of these
germplasm for rearing under intensive system of production.
Aseel chickens are slow growers (Haunshi et al. 2011);
hence, the practice of providing them with standard chick
starter (broiler/layer) diet is neither economical nor suitable
for eliciting optimum growth performance. Previous studies
with indigenous chicken of China had demonstrated that
nutrient requirements of native breeds were different com-
pared to those of commercial layers or broilers (Zhao et al.
2009). Also, it is reported that slow-growing birds need
lesser dietary CP for optimum performance (Morris and
Njuru 1990). Further, Elangovan et al. (2004) observed that
low levels of crude protein (CP; 12–18%) did not affect
BWG and feed intake, in relatively slow growing improved
1654
crosses developed for free-range farming during growing
stage (12–20 weeks). In another study (Rama Rao et al.
2005), it was revealed that feeding different levels of metab-
olizable energy (ME) positively influenced the BWG while
negatively affecting feed intake and feed conversion ratio
(FCR) in a moderately growing improved cross (Vanaraja),
that is developed for backyard/free range farming. However,
to our knowledge little information is available on nutrient
requirements of Aseel breed of chicken. Therefore, the present
study was carried out to investigate the effects of feeding
different levels of dietary ME and CP on the perfor-
mance of Aseel breed of chicken during juvenile phase.
Materials and methods
Location of the experiment
The present study was conducted from January to March on
experimental poultry farm of the Project Directorate on
Poultry located at Rajendranagar, Hyderabad (17°20′N,
78°30′E), India.
Experimental animals, diets and design
A total of 432 one-day-old chicks were wing-banded,
weighed individually and randomly distributed into nine
groups. Each group had 48 chicks distributed into eight
replicates with six birds in each. It was observed that there
was no significant difference in initial (day-old) body
weight among nine treatment groups. Maize–soybean
meal-based diets with three levels of ME (2,400, 2,600
and 2,800 kcal/kg) and three levels of CP (16%, 18% and
20%) in a 3×3 factorial design (Table 1) were fed to the
birds belonging to nine treatment groups. Chicks had free
access to ad libitum feed and water during the entire course
of the experiment. Birds were reared in three tier battery
brooder cages in open sided house from 0 to 8 weeks of age.
Standard management and health care practices were fol-
lowed for rearing chicks throughout the experiment. These
management and health care practices were maintained sim-
ilar for all the birds of nine treatment groups. The present
experiment was carried out with the approval of the institu-
tional animal ethics committee.
Experimental procedure
Body weights were recorded on the day of hatching and at
8 weeks of age, while shank length was measured at 8 weeks
of age. Feed intake was recorded at weekly intervals and
FCR was calculated for an 8-week period. Intake of ME, CP,
protein efficiency ratio (PER 0 gain per gram of protein
intake) and energy efficiency ratio (EER 0 gain×100/total
Trop Anim Health Prod (2012) 44:1653–1658
ME intake) were also determined. Mortality of birds was
recorded as and when it occurred.
Three milliliters of blood was collected from brachial
vein from one bird per group at 8 weeks of age. The level
of total serum protein, serum cholesterol level and haemag-
glutination inhibition (HI) antibody titres were measured.
The total serum protein was determined as described by
Lowry et al. (1951), while serum cholesterol level was
determined as per the method of Zak et al. (1954). Experi-
mental birds were vaccinated against the Lasota strain of New
Castle disease (ND) virus on seventh day of age and antibody
titre in serum sample against ND antigen was carried out by
HI method using 4 haemagglutination units of ND virus and
1% chicken RBCs at 8 weeks of age. The end titres of HI
antibody level were expressed as log2 values.
Statistical analysis
The general linear model procedure of SAS (SAS Institute
2008) was used for statistical analysis of data. A two-way
analysis of variance was performed to test the main effects
of different levels of ME, CP and their interaction effects on
BWG, shank length, feed intake, FCR, ME intake, CP
intake, EER, PER and blood biochemical parameters.
Means of the parameters were compared using Tukey's
multiple mean comparison test. All the data were presented
as mean ± root MSE, and means were considered signifi-
cantly different when P<0.05.
Results
BWG and shank length
Effects of dietary treatments on body weight gain (BWG)
and shank length are presented in Table 2. Eight weeks
BWG of birds fed with diets having 2,600 or 2,800 kcal/
kg ME were significantly (P<0.004) higher than those birds
fed with 2,400 kcal/kg ME. However, the effect of feeding
different levels of CP and interaction of different ME and
CP levels on BWG was not significant. Similarly, it was
observed that at 8 weeks of age, shank lengths of birds fed
with high dietary ME (2,600 or 2,800 kcal/kg) were signif-
icantly (P<0.0007) higher than those birds fed with lower
dietary ME (2,400 kcal/kg). However, no significant effect
of feeding different CP levels was observed on shank length
of these birds. Similarly, interaction of different ME and CP
levels had no significant effect on the shank length.
Feed intake and feed conversion ratio
Effect of feeding different dietary ME levels was significant
(P<0.0001) on 8 weeks cumulative feed intake of birds.
Trop Anim Health Prod (2012) 44:1653–1658 1655

Table 1 Feed ingredients and nutrient levels of various diets (T-1 to T-9) used in the experiment

Feed ingredients (%) T-1 T-2 T-3 T-4 T-5 T-6 T-7 T-8 T-9

Normal maize 43.7 40.0 38.0 54.7 51.2 49.5 66.0 64.0 60.0
Soybean meal 16.0 22.0 28.0 18.0 24.0 30.0 19.5 25.6 31.5
De-oiled rice bran 35.50 33.42 29.53 22.49 20.21 16.03 9.70 5.81 4.03
Oyster shell grit 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8
Dicalcium phosphate 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
D,L-Methionine 0.08 0.05 0.03 0.09 0.06 0.03 0.08 0.06 0.03
Lysine 0.28 0.09 0 0.28 0.09 0 0.28 0.09 0
Common salt 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
Vitaminsa 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04
Choline chloride 50% 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
Toxin binderb 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Trace mineral mixturec 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
d
Antibiotic 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05
Coccidiostate 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Calculated nutrient composition of diets
ME, (kcal/kg) 2,429.6 2,416.1 2,428.0 2,619.4 2,609.2 2,626.0 2,810.9 2,825.2 2,804.5
CP, (%) 16.02 18.10 20.08 16.06 18.13 20.10 15.94 17.96 20.02
Lysine, (%) 1.069 1.031 1.086 1.073 1.034 1.088 1.064 1.022 1.082
Methionine, (%) 0.355 0.352 0.357 0.364 0.361 0.356 0.351 0.357 0.353
Calcium, (%) 1.066 1.080 1.093 1.061 1.075 1.088 1.054 1.068 1.082
Available Phosphorous, (%) 0.437 0.445 0.451 0.432 0.440 0.446 0.427 0.433 0.441
a
Vitamin pre mix provided (mg/kg diet): thiamin, 0.8; pyridoxine, 1.6; cyanocobalamine, 0.008; nicacine, 12; calcium D pantothenate, 8;
tocopherol, 8; riboflavin, 10; menadione 2; retinal acetate, 16,500 IU; cholecalciferol, 2,400 IU
b
Bantox (Venky’s)
c
Trace mineral pre mix provided (g/100 kg): zinc, 16; manganese, 20; ferrous, 22; copper, 4.0; iodine, 0.5; cobalt, 0.18; selenium, 0.2
4
Antibiotic provided (mg/kg): Furazolidone 1,000
5
Coccidiostat provided (mg/kg diet): Tylosin phosphate 50 (Tylomix premix)

There was a clear cut trend between cumulative feed intake
and dietary ME levels (Table 2). Birds fed with diets of
lower ME content (2,400 or 2,600 kcal/kg) consumed sig-
nificantly (P<0.0001) more quantity of feed as compared to
those fed with higher dietary ME (2,800 kcal/kg). However,
there was no significant effect of different levels of CP and
ME by CP interaction on feed intake. There was no signif-
icant effect of CP level and ME by CP interaction on FCR as
well. Nevertheless, different levels of ME had significant
effect on FCR. Birds fed with higher ME levels exhibited
significantly (P<0.0001) better FCR while birds fed with
lower ME showed significantly poor FCR. FCR was better
at dietary ME level of 2,800 followed by 2,600 and
2,400 kcal/kg (Table 2).
Energy efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio
There was no significant effect of ME, CP or their interac-
tion on EER. However, effect of ME (P<0.001) and CP (P<
0.001) levels were significant on PER (Table 2). PER was
better at ME level of 2,800 followed by 2,600 and
2,400 kcal/kg. Similarly, PER was better at dietary CP level
of 16% followed by 18% and 20%.
Blood biochemical parameters
There were significant effects of ME (P<0.0003), CP (P<
0.0001) and their interaction (P<0.002) on serum protein
level. Effects of feeding different dietary ME (P<0.0001),
CP (P<0.007) and their interactions (P<0.004) were signifi-
cant on serum cholesterol level as well. However, no clear cut
trend was observed with respect to effect of varying levels of
these major nutrients on serum cholesterol level. Also, there
was no effect of either ME levels, CP levels or their interaction
on antibody (HI) titre against ND virus antigen (Table 3).
Mortality
Four birds (two each from treatment four and treatment
nine) died during entire duration of the experiment. It was
1656 Trop Anim Health Prod (2012) 44:1653–1658

Table 2 Effects of ME and CP on growth, intake of feed, ME and CP, FCR, PER and EER of Aseel birds during juvenile phase

Factors BWG (g) Shank Length (mm) Feed Intake (g) FCR CP Intake (g) ME Intake (kcal) PER EER

ME (kcal/kg)
2,400 508.2b 73.5b 1,740.2a 3.43a 315.0a 4,219.6b 1.63c 12.05
2,600 543.6a 75.5a 1,682.9a 3.10b 305.0a 4,405.9a 1.80b 12.34
2,800 539.6a 76.1a 1,580.1b 2.93c 284.1b 4,445.3a 1.92a 12.14
CP (%)
16 529.24 75.22 1,698.28 3.12 262.9c 4,294.8 2.02a 12.34
18 530.27 75.21 1,662.75 3.15 300.4b 4,339.3 1.77b 12.22
20 531.93 74.74 1,698.26 3.12 340.8a 4,436.8 1.57c 11.99
ME (kcal/kg) CP (%)
2,400 16 499.4 73.5 1,696.5 3.40 271.7 4,121.7 1.84 12.12
2,400 18 506.6 73.4 1,739.4 3.44 314.7 4,202.0 1.61 12.05
2,400 20 518.5 73.8 1,784.6 3.45 358.5 4,335.3 1.45 11.97
2,600 16 543.2 76.5 1,654.7 3.05 265.8 4,334.7 2.04 12.53
2,600 18 549.7 75.96 1,677.0 3.05 304.1 4,375.4 1.81 12.56
2,600 20 538.0 74.1 1,716.9 3.19 345.0 4,507.8 1.56 11.94
2,800 16 545.0 75.7 1,575.3 2.89 251.1 4,428.0 2.17 12.31
2,800 18 534.5 76.3 1,571.8 2.95 282.4 4,440.5 1.89 12.04
2,800 20 539.3 76.3 1,593.2 2.96 318.9 4,467.4 1.69 12.06
Root MSEd 97.4 5.94 90.9 0.14 16.6 240.31 0.08 0.51
P value
ME 0.004 0.0007 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.01 0.0001 NS
CP NS NS NS NS 0.0001 NS 0.0001 NS
ME × CP NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS

MSE mean square error (standard error of mean 0 root MSE/root n), BWG body weight gain, ME metabolizable energy, CP crude protein, FCR feed
conversion ratio, PER protein efficiency ratio, EER energy efficiency ratio
a,b,c
Figures with different superscripts column-wise differ significantly

observed that different levels of ME, CP or their interaction
did not significantly affect the mortality of birds.
Discussion
Aseel birds are a slow-growing native type of chickens
(Haunshi et al. 2011), and as such few reports are available
in published literature about the requirements of nutrients of
these birds under intensive system of production. Several
factors affect the growth performance of birds such as ge-
notype, nutrition, age, sex, or environment. The present
study revealed that dietary ME levels had an important role
in BWG, shank length, feed consumption, FCR and PER
during juvenile phase in Aseel birds. The results of the
present study suggest that 2,600 kcal/kg ME is the optimum
requirement of Aseel birds for eliciting maximum perfor-
mance. It is apparent that the ME requirements of Aseel
birds is similar to that of White Leghorn chicks as suggested
by BIS (1992) in chick starter ration. In a study, Rama Rao
et al. (2005) observed positive impact of higher ME levels
(2,400–2,800 kcal/kg) than lower ME levels (2,200–
2,300 kcal/kg) on BWG of a moderately fast growing cross-
bred (Vanaraja) chicken. This variation could be due to
higher growth rate of Vanaraja birds (15 g/day) compared
to the slow growth of Aseel birds (10 g/day) used in the
present study.
The different dietary CP levels did not affect the growth
performance traits of Aseel birds. It implies that feeding of
these birds with 16% dietary CP was sufficient to meet the
requirement for optimum performance of these birds. It was
also evident from another study (Elangovan et al. 2004) that
the requirement of CP in slow growing birds during growing
stage (12–20 weeks) was lesser (12%), and feeding birds
with CP above this level (14–18%) did not affect the
growth. This finding corroborates the fact that CP require-
ment of slow growing birds like Aseel is less than those of
fast-growing birds (broilers) for optimum growth perfor-
mance (Morris and Njuru 1990). Zhao et al. (2009) studied
effect of feeding low (2,542 kcal/kg ME and 16.9% CP),
medium (2,844 kcal/kg ME and 19% CP) and high
(3,146 kcal/kg ME and 21% CP) nutrient density diets on
BWG in slow growing Chinese native chicken breed and
suggested low density diet for optimum performance of
Trop Anim Health Prod (2012) 44:1653–1658 1657

Table 3 Effects of ME and CP on biochemical parameters of Aseel slow growing chickens is comparatively less (16%), and that
birds during juvenile phase
feeding birds with dietary CP beyond this level may not
Factors Serum protein Serum cholesterol Antibody increase the shank length significantly.
level (g/l) level (mg/dl) (HI) titre Feed intake decreased with increase in dietary ME levels,
(log2) thus FCR improved with increase in dietary ME levels. This
ME (kcal/kg)
finding could be explained from the fact that chickens
consume feed basically to meet their energy requirement.
2,400 4.95a 208.97a 6.95
So, there was higher intake of diets having lesser ME
2,600 4.05b 221.84a 6.96
content. However, increased intake of diets of lesser ME
2,800 3.49b 192.45b 6.83
level failed to increase the BWG. Therefore, FCR was
CP (%)
negatively affected in birds fed with diets having lesser
16 3.09b 217.37a 6.87
dietary ME level. Similar observation was made by Quentin
18 3.80b 198.28b 6.96
et al. (2003), who concluded that improvement of FCR in
20 5.60a 207.62ab 6.92
meat type chickens fed with more concentrated diets was
ME CP (%)
mainly due to higher energy intake. Rama Rao et al. (2005)
2,400 16 3.99b 222.6ab 6.75
also observed that birds fed with higher ME level
2,400 18 4.43b 187.4cd 7.25
(2,800 kcal/kg) had lower feed intake and better FCR than
2,400 20 6.42a 216.9abc 6.87
those fed with lower ME level (2,300 kcal/kg) in Vanaraja
2,600 16 2.06c 222.1ab 6.62
chicken.
2,600 18 3.66bc 231.5a 6.87
Better PER observed at higher dietary ME levels can be
2,600 20 6.43a 211.9abc 7.37 explained from the fact that the BWG was higher at higher
2,800 16 3.20bc 207.4abcd 7.25 ME levels. Hence, PER, a measure of BWG per unit of CP
2,800 18 3.32bc 175.9d 6.75 intake was better at higher ME levels. Higher PER at lower
2,800 20 3.94b 194.1bcd 6.50 dietary CP levels was due to lesser quantity of overall CP
Root MSEd 1.17 20.05 0.87 intake at lower CP levels, with more or less similar BWG
P value across different CP levels (Table 2). The higher PER at
ME 0.0003 0.0001 0.8476 lower dietary CP levels as well as the absence of significant
CP 0.0001 0.007 0.9463 difference in EER at different dietary CP levels in the
ME × CP 0.002 0.004 0.1251 present study were in agreement with results of Cheng et
al. (1997), who observed that PER was significantly higher
MSE mean square error (standard error of mean 0 root MSE/root n),
ME metabolizable energy, CP crude protein, HI haemaglutination at low CP levels and vice versa was true. They also observed
inhibition no significant difference in EER of birds fed different CP
a,b,c
Figures with different superscripts column-wise differ significantly levels.
The higher concentration of protein in the serum of the
slow growing chicken. It appears from the findings of the birds fed with 2,400 kcal/kg ME and 20% CP compared to
present study and other previous studies that requirements those fed with 2,600 or 2,800 kcal/kg ME, and 16 or 18%
of ME and CP in slow growing birds like Aseel were CP could be attributed to higher intake and absorption of CP
moderate (2,600 kcal/kg ME and 16% CP) for optimum present in the diet. This finding can be explained from the
performance during juvenile phase. fact that the BWG and serum protein levels were increased
Similar to BWG, the requirement of ME and CP for with increase in dietary CP levels. However, once the re-
maximum shank length in these birds were 2,600 kcal/kg quirement of CP for optimum BWG was met, the increase in
and 16%, respectively. Therefore, feeding birds with dietary dietary CP (beyond the requirement) did not increase the
ME and CP above these levels did not affect the shank BWG although there was increase in serum protein level.
length significantly. Finding of lack of significant effect of This finding is in agreement with the observations of
feeding Aseel birds with different CP levels (16–20%) on Leveille and Sauberlich (1961), who reported that total
shank length at 8 weeks of age is in agreement with the serum protein and body weights increased linearly with
findings of Leeson et al. (1998), who observed that feeding increase in dietary protein (5–20%) levels in growing
brown egg pullets with different CP levels similar to those chicks. However, feeding chicks with diets having higher
used in the present study (16–18%) did not affect the shank CP levels (25%) did not increase the body weight although
length (at 8 weeks of age) significantly. However, they there was increase in serum protein level.
observed that feeding birds with 14% dietary CP did signif- Age, diet, environmental factors (stress), etc., affect the
icantly reduce the shank length at same age in brown egg total serum cholesterol level (Pettersson and Razdan 1993).
pullets. It appears that CP level for optimum shank length in Feeding chickens with diets having different energy protein
1658
ratio is also known to affect the total serum cholesterol level
(Kokatnur et al. 1958). However, in the present study, we
could not find a definite trend between different levels of
dietary ME, CP, and their ratios, and total serum cholesterol
level. Absence of significant difference in serum antibody
titres between different treatments indicates that feeding
Aseel birds with 2,600 kcal/kg ME and 16% CP would be
enough to maintain the optimum antibody titre to protect
these birds from New Castle disease. This observation is in
agreement with the finding of Golian et al. (2010), who did
not find significant effect of different levels of CP (17–26%)
on humoral immune response in broiler chicks.
From the findings of the present study it can be concluded
that feeding Aseel birds with diets having 2,600 kcal/kg ME
and 16% CP would be ideal for optimum growth during
juvenile phase under intensive system of rearing. However,
to obtain better FCR, feeding Aseel birds with diet having
2,800 kcal/kg ME and 16% CP would be ideal.
Acknowledgements We sincerely thank Mrs. R. Sunita, Shri. R,
Pratap and Shri. A. Ravikumar for their kind support during feeding
trial. Thanks are due to Dr. Daryab Singh, Hatchery manager, for his
kind help in hatching chicks for this experiment. The present study was
carried out under the Institute project supported by Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
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