Characterisation of the response of male broiler chickens to diets of various protein and energy contents.
1. The regression of body-weight gain in chicks up to three weeks of age on the linear and quadratic effects of dietary energy and protein contents accounted for approximately 50% of the observed variation. 2. The same model accounted for only 18% of the variation in food consumption, but 68% of the variation in food utilisation (food consumption:body-weight gain ratio). 3. Including initial body weight in the body-weight gain model increased the explained variation from 50 to 65% of the observed variation. 4. The coefficients for the linear and quadratic effects of dietary protein and energy were significantly different from zero for food utilisation, indicating that the response to dietary protein and energy conforms with the 'law of diminishing increments'. 5. Carcass lipid was inversely proportional to carcass water; both showed a linear response to dietary protein concentration.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004435:Eating; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological
D004044:Dietary Proteins