Protein requirements of growing (12–20 weeks) Naked neck x CARl-Red (Hitcari) and Frizzle x CARI-Red (Upcari) pullets

Naked neck x CARI-Red (Hitcari) and Frizzle x CARI-Red (Upcari) chickens are suitable for backyard poultry under tropical condition. With objectives of developing suitable supplementary nutritional package of these native chickens, in the present study, female Naked neck x CARI-Red (Hitcari) (n=120) and frizzle x CARI-Red birds (n=120) were subjected to four iso-caloric (2600 kcal/kg ME) dietary treatments with CP 18-T1, 16-T2, 14-T3 and 12%-T4 to determine optimum dietary protein level. Each dietary treatment was offered to 4 replicated groups of 7–8 birds each. Moreover, two replicates under each treatment were of different plumage pattern i. e. naked neck (/frizzle) or normal plumage. Results of Naked neck x CARI-Red (Hitcari) birds indicated that body weight gain and feed intake did not differ due to treatments but feed utilization was better in diets with 12% CP in diet during 12–20 weeks of age. In case of Frizzle x CARI-Red chicks, body weight gain did not differ due to treatments but feed intake was less and feed utilization was better in diets with 12, 14 or 16% CP in diets. It was concluded that Naked neck x CARI-Red birds can be maintained on diet with 12% CP level. Whereas, the optimum dietary protein levels for growing Frizzle x CARI-Red birds was 12 to 14% from 12–20 weeks of age.