THE EFFECT OF LYSINE IN RATION ON ABDOMINAL FAT AND FEATHER GROWTH OF SEVERAL STRAINS OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lysine concentration in ration, on the weight of abdominal fat and the growth rate of primary feathers. Three strains of broilers were used including AA (Indian River), BB (Lohmann) and CC (Ross). One hundred and twenty of one day old chickens were used for up to six weeks of age and each strain consisted of 20 males and 20 females which were treated separately. All rations were formulated as an iso-nitrogeneous and iso-ealory (starter diet containing 21% crude protein and 3000 kcal ME/kg diets, finisher diets containing 19% crude protein and 3000 kcal ME/kg diets). Five different levels of lysine used in this experiment were 0.94% (R1), 1.04% (R2), 1.14% (R3), 1.24% (R4) and 1.34% (R5). Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The data obtained were subjected to analyze of variance based on (3x2x5) Factorial Completely Randomized Design. Any different between treatment means were analyzed by Honestly Significant Different. The results showed that there were significant cfiects (P<.01) on the percentage of abdominal fat and feather weight between strains and sexes. They are also significant difference between strains and lysine levels in diet. There were significant interaction between strains, sexes and lysine levels on the percentage of feather weight. Strain AA (Indian River) showed wider and longer on the primary feather for female than male broiler chickens.