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

The purpose of this study was to determine the most effective protein levels for Mewari chicks. Five hundred ten day-old unsexed Mewari chicks were obtained from AICRP on Poultry Breeding, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur. They were then randomly separated into five feeding groups, each with six repetitions of 17 birds. The chicks were raised using a deep litter housing system according to standard methods until they were 8 weeks old. These day-old Mewari chicks were given five distinct experimental diets that had the same calorie content but varied in crude protein levels: 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, and 20%. To assess how different dietary protein levels affected nutrient use, a metabolic trial was performed once the feeding period concluded. The digestibility rates for all nutrients, except for dry matter (DM) which showed no significant difference, were notably higher in treatment group 3 (T3) when compared to the other groups.
The average digestibility rates for crude protein (78.38±0.88), crude fiber (76.33±1.00), ether extract (EE) (85.91±0.59), and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) (80.14±0.840) were significantly greater (p<0.01) in the group that consumed the diet with 18% crude protein. Based on these outcomes, it can be concluded that providing 18% crude protein in the diet enhanced the digestibility of all nutrients in Mewari chicks, identifying this as the most favorable level for them during their first 0-8 weeks of age.