Performance of White Rock and Local Nigerian Chicks on Diets Supplemented with Fishmeal

Abstract

Oluyemi and Oyenuga (1973) found that experimental diets with 24 per cent crude protein (N x 6.25) did not support satisfactory growth rates of chicks and that the chick starter diets should contain about 27 per cent crude protein so as to obtain calorie: protein ratio• of 132-143 recommended by Combs (1962). A high dietary level of protein, depending on the amino acid balance of the intact protein used, may obviate supplementation of the diet with synthetic amino acid to achieve optimum amino acid profile of the diet (Scott, Nesheim and Young, 1969). Also, for intact protein, the animal sources are more expensive than the plant and especially in Nigeria where the animal protein is largely imported. The object of this study is to determine the extent to which fishmeal should be used in a practical chick starter diet.