Vol. 7, Issue 6, Part E (2025)

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the dietary energy requirements of Mewari chicks reared under an intensive system in Southern Rajasthan. A total of 510 one-day-old, single-hatched Mewari chicks were randomly distributed into 5 dietary treatment groups. Each treatment group received a diet formulated to provide different levels of metabolizable energy 2600 (T₁), 2700 (T₂), 2800 (T₃), 2900 (T₄), and 3000 (T₅) kcal ME/kg, while maintaining a constant crude protein level of 20%. Each treatment was replicated 6 times with 17 chicks per replicate. The chicks were housed in deep litter cages of dimension 5 ft × 3 ft × 2.5 ft and reared for a duration of 8 weeks under uniform management conditions. Significant higher digestible intake of DM, CP, EE, CF and NFE were observed in groups fed 17 and 18% CP than other groups. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract were significantly higher (P<0.01) in T₃ compared to treatment groups T₄ and T₅, while digestibility coefficient of crude fiber and Nitrogen-free extract were higher (P<0.01) in T₁ and T₂, T₃ groups, respectively. Chicks fed the T₂ and T₃ diets showed higher digestible nutrient intakes and better digestibility coefficients, indicating improved nutrient utilization. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that a dietary level of 2800 kcal ME/kg along with 20% crude protein was found to the optimum in enhancing nutrient utilization in Mewari chicks.