The effect of varying dietary nutrient densities on the relative growth of ostrich body components

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Date

2020

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

OpenJournals Publishing AOSIS (Pty) Ltd

Abstract

The influence of varying dietary protein and energy levels on the relative growth of body components of ostriches was evaluated over a 244-day growth period. One hundred twenty 1-day-old ostrich chicks were randomly assigned to 15 pens. Three varying energy regimes (high, medium and low) and five protein levels (1–5) were supplied ad libitum to each pen. A randomly selected bird from each pen was slaughtered at 1, 35, 63, 103, 159, 168 and 244 days of age. Each bird was weighed, stunned, exsanguinated, defeathered and eviscerated. Individual body components were dissected and weighed at every slaughter age. Proximate analysis was performed on these components, which were ground with the remainder of the carcass, excluding gut content, but including blood and feathers.

Description

Keywords

Ratites, Growth, Nutrient densities, Ostrich nutrition, Poultry nutrition

Citation

Brand, T. S. et al. (2020). The effect of varying dietary nutrient densities on the relative growth of ostrich body components. Journal of the South African veterinary association, 91,a2029