EFFECTS OF DIETARY CELLULOSE AND PROTEIN LEVELS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, ENERGY AND NITROGEN UTILIZATION, LIPID CONTENTS AND DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNAL ORGANS IN GROWING CHICKS

In order to investigate the effects of dietary cellulose and protein levels on chick performance, four semi-purified diets were formulated so as to contain cellulose at levels of 5% (LC) and 20% (HC) in combination with 10% (LP) and 20% (HP) protein, and fed ad libitum to 1-week-old White Leghorn male chicks for 3 weeks. There were no significant differences in feed intake, body weight gain and feed efficiency between the LC-HP and HC-HP groups. All parameters were lower in the LP groups; the HC-LP group consumed very small amount of feed and lost body weight during the experiment. The retention rates of DM, ash, nitrogen and energy were higher in the HP than the LP groups. The triglyceride concentration of carcass was lower in the HC-LP group and that of liver was higher in the LC-LP group. The carcass total cholesterol level was higher in the HC-HP group. The relative weight of most digestive organs was higher in the HP group irrespective of the cellulose level. In conclusion, the chick performance was primarily influenced by dietary protein level, and when the chicks were fed inadequate levels of protein, the low cellulose level gave a better performance than the high cellulose level.