The effect of light intensity, temperature, and diet on growth in red-legged partridge

Three hundred Red-legged partridge chicks ( Alectoris graeca) were divided into two groups and fed starter diets calculated to contain 24.5 and 24.9% crude protein and 2646 and 2662 kcal/kg metabolizable energy, respectively. One diet consisted of 5% fish meal while the other contained all vegetable protein. One-half of the birds on each diet were grown under fluorescent light intensity of 300 lx; the remainder received 5 lx. The results indicated that neither the source of protein nor intensity of light had an effect on the rate of growth to 8 weeks of age. At 8 weeks of age, the birds were randomly divided among three climatic chambers and kept under a constant temperature of either 18.3, 23.9, or 29.5 C. At 12 weeks of age, one-half of the birds in each chamber were fed a 20% turkey grower diet; the remainder received equal parts by weight of the turkey grower diet and whole milo . Individual body weights and feed consumption were measured biweekly. Best growth was obtained in birds kept at 29.5 C and fed equal parts of turkey grower and milo from 12 to 30 weeks of age.