Effect of Constant Dietary Energy and Protein Levels on Growth Performance and Reproductive Traits of Vanaraja Chickens

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary protease enzyme supplementation on the growth performance and egg production traits of Vanaraja chickens. The experiment was conducted for 27 weeks under uniform management conditions. A total of 90 day-old Vanaraja chicks were randomly distributed into three dietary treatments (T1, T2 and T3), with 30 birds in each group. The experimental diets were formulated to contain 20% crude protein and 2800 kcal/kg metabolisable energy. Protease enzyme was not added to T1, whereas T2 and T3 were supplemented with protease at 200 g/ton and 300 g/ton, respectively. Standard housing, feeding and health management practices were followed throughout the experimental period. Growth performance parameters, including body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio, were recorded at regular intervals. Egg production was monitored during the laying phase to assess reproductive performance. The results showed that birds fed the highest level of protease enzyme (T3) recorded the highest body weight, body weight gain, body weight at first laying and total egg production compared with the other treatment groups. Feed intake was highest in T1, whereas feed conversion ratio values require careful interpretation and verification. Based on the findings, dietary supplementation with protease enzyme at 300 g/ton may improve growth performance and egg production in Vanaraja chickens maintained on diets with constant crude protein and metabolisable energy levels.