Effect of feeding mustard cake on nutrient utilization in Pratapdhan chicks

The present study was designed to assess the effect of feeding mustard cake on nutrient utilization in Pratapdhan chicks. A total of 200 day-old straight run Pratapdhan chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups with five replicates of 10 chicks each. The chicks were fed maize soyabean deoiled cake basal diet (T1, control) or with mustard cake included at 3% (T2), 6% (T3 and 9% (T4) in the diet replacing soya DOC by 10, 13, and 16%. A metabolism trial was conducted at 8 weeks of age to study nutrient utilization by Pratapdhan chicks. Results showed that supplementation of 6% Mustard cake in the diet significantly improved the CF intake, digestible CF intake in Pratapdhan chicks. The digestibility coefficients of crude protein (80.48%), crude fibre (76.54%), ether extract (84.65%) and NFE (75.94%) were significantly (P<0.01) higher in T3 compared to other treatments while digestibility remained lowest in control group. The protein and energy efficiency ratios were significantly (P<0.01) higher in T3 (1.94 and 13.90) compared to other treatment groups. Based on results of nutrient utilization it can be concluded that Mustard cake can be safely included in the diet of Pratapdhan chicks at 6 percent level for better digestibility of pratapdhan chicks.