| Abstrakt: |
This present study explored the effect of dietary metabolizable energy levels combined with isonitrogenous crude protein content on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and myostatin gene expression in indigenous Aseelchickens. A total of 400 Aseelchicks were distributed into five treatment groups each one having eight replicates, totally 40 pens with 10 chicks per pen. Over a span of 15 weeks, five diets were formulated with varying ME levels ranging from 2600 to 3000 kcal ME/kg while maintaining an isonitrogenous CP level of 21%. At the end of the 15-week trial period, the 2900 kcal ME /kg fed group exhibited the greatest body weight gain, with a significant difference of 146.29 g from that of the 3000 kcal ME /kg fed group. There was a noticeable decrease in feed intake as energy levels increased, yet the 2900 kcal ME /kg fed group achieved the best feed efficiency of 3.69. Carcass characteristics such as dressing percentage and carcass weight remained unaffected by the varied energy diets (P> 0.05) in Aseelchickens. Furthermore, compared with the 2800 kcal ME/kg fed diet, the 2900 kcal ME/kg fed led to a 0.53-fold decrease in myostatin gene expression. Additionally, myostatin gene expression was negatively correlated with body weight gain, carcass weight and dressing percentage in Aseelchickens fed different dietary energy levels. In conclusion, a diet with 2900 kcal ME/kg and 21% isonitrogenous crude protein content appears to be optimum for enhancing growth performance in Aseelchickens up to 15 weeks of age, as evidenced by improved body weight gain and feed efficiency. |
Full text from SpringerLink