Enhancing feed efficiency while lowering production costs is a key priority in poultry farming, particularly with native breeds like Pratapdhan. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of phytase supplementation (1500 FTU/kg) in diets with graded levels of crude protein (CP) on growth performance, carcass characteristics in Pratapdhan chickens. Five dietary treatments were tested with four replications, each replication consisting of 10 chicks: T1 (Control, 20% CP), T2 (20% CP + phytase), T3 (19% CP + phytase), T4 (18% CP + phytase) and T5 (17% CP + phytase), all diets being iso-caloric (ME 2800 kcal/kg). Carcass traits such as live weight was significantly (p<0.01%) highest in T3 (811.11±0.70) and lowest in T5 (726.08±0.41), dressed weight was significantly highest in T3 (728.82±0.64) and lowest in T5 (611±0.41), eviscerated weight was significantly highest in T3 (622±0.58) and lowest in T1 (531±0.41) and giblet weight were significantly higher (p<0.01) in T3 (55.92±0.31) and lowest in T5 (43.15±0.68). While dressing percentage was recorded significantly highest in T3 (89.86±0.14) and lowest in T4 (83±0.10), eviscerated percentage was recorded highest in T3 (76.68±0.12) and lowest in T4 (73.13±0.15). Phytase supplementation had no significant effect on heart and liver weight as a percentage of live weight, however, gizzard percentage was significantly improved in T3 (3.72±0.03).
In conclusion, supplementing phytase at 1500 FTU/kg in diets with a 5% reduction in crude protein not only maintains but enhances carcass quality in Pratapdhan chickens offering a promising nutritional strategy for sustainable and cost-effective poultry production.
International Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry
