Effects of dietary protein and energy concentrations on performance and carcase characteristics of chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) raised in captivity

Abstract

1. This study was conducted to determine the effects of starter and grower diets with differing crude protein (CP) and metabolisable energy (ME) concentrations on the body weight (BW), live weight gain (LWG), feed consumption (FC), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and carcase, breast+back, rump, wing, neck and abdominal fat weights of chukar partridge raised in captivity. 2. Chukar partridges were fed on starter diets containing 4 concentrations of CP (160, 200, 240, 280 g/kg) and 4 concentrations of ME (10.9, 11.7, 12.6, 13.4 MJ/kg) from hatch to 8 weeks of age; they were fed on grower diets containing 4 concentrations of CP (150, 175, 200, 225 g/kg) and 4 concentrations of ME (11.9, 12.6, 13.2, 13.8 MJ/kg) from 9 to 16 weeks of age. All diets contained at least 5.5 g/kg methionine, 15 g/kg lysine and 10 g/kg methionine+cystine. Sixteen starter and 16 grower diets were arranged in a 4 x 4 factorial design with 4 levels of CP and 4 levels of ME. Each treatment was replicated three times with each replicate consisting of 5 males and 5 females. 3. Partridges fed on a starter diet containing 160 g CP/kg were significantly lighter at 8 weeks of age than those in groups given diets containing a higher CP. However, at 16 weeks of age, the differences in BW among treatments had disappeared. Throughout, there were no significant effects of ME concentration on BW and LWG. 4. The daily mean FC for the 0 to 8 week and 0 to 16 week periods was not affected by dietary CP concentration. For the 9 to 16 week period, the partridges fed on a grower diet containing 225 g CP/kg consumed more feed than those given a diet containing 175 g CP/kg. 5. The highest FCR for the 0 to 8 week period was in partridges fed on a starter diet containing 160 g CP/kg. For the 9 to 16 week period, the lowest FCR was in partridges fed on a grower diet containing 150 g CP/kg. For the 0 to 16 week period, there was not a significant effect of dietary CP concentration on FCR. The daily mean FC and the FCR for the 0 to 8, 9 to 16 and 0 to 16 week periods decreased when the ME concentration of the starter and grower diets increased. 6. The carcase, rump and breast+back weights of the male partridges increased when the ME content of the diets increased. Weights of all carcase components of the male partridges were significantly greater than those of the carcase components of the females. 7. There were no significant interactions between CP and ME concentrations on BW, LWG, FC, FCR and carcase characteristics. 8. We conclude that the starter diet for chukar partridges raised for meat production should contain at least 200 g CP/kg, 11.7 MJ ME/kg, and the grower diet should contain 150 g CP/kg, 12.6 MJ ME/kg.

Amino Acid Levels in Muscle Tissue of Six Wild Feathered Species

“…Our results bring new and extend existing knowledge on quality of muscle protein in six feathered game species bred under European conditions. They further support findings pointing out high slaughter value of feathered game, especially common pheasant (Tucak et al, 2008;Franco and Lorenzo, 2013), grey partridge (Gaglianone Moro et al, 2006), quail (Seker et al, 2009;Bednarczyk et al, 2007), guinea fowl (Nahashon et al, 2009) and chukar partridge (Özek et al, 2003;Esen et al, 2006). It may be said that with regard to AAs feathered game muscle is a significant source of quality protein, especially for its higher levels of essential amino acids.…”

Effect of Zeranol Implantation on Daily Gain and Carcass Quality of Buffalo Bulls

“…The body weight and weight gain of the groups fed 22 & 24 % protein levels increased significantly (P<0.05) as compared to the other groups. These agreed with that found by Ozek et al (2003) and Ozek (2006) who reported progressive growth rates with increasing dietary protein concentration. Satisfactory growth rates were obtained between 24 and 27 % crude protein levels as found in the earlier studies by (Weber & Ried, 1967;Vohra & Roudybush, 1971;NRC, 1994;Baldini et al, 1995;Shrivastava & Panda, 1999).…”

Sunflower oil supplementation alters meat quality but not performance of growing partridges (Alectoris chukar)

“…A worse FCR in this study (Table 2) may be related to a lower protein content of diets, which were 26% and 22% during starter and grower periods respectively (Table 1). However, Özek et al. (2003) stated that 20% crude protein in starter diets and 15% crude protein in grower diets could meet demands of growing partridges.…”

“…Energy (13.4 MJ/kg) and protein (24%) requirements of growing partridges are comparably higher than other domesticated poultry species (Özek, 2006). Özek et al. (2003) suggested that starter and grower diets should be formulated to contain at least 20% and 15% crude protein and 11.72 and 12.56 MJ metabolisable energy per kilogram respectively.…”