Effect of dietary protein and energy on broiler carcass composition and efficiency of nutrient utilization

Day-old broilers were offered diets varying in dietary protein (16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36%) and energy (2600, 2800, 3000, 3200, 3400, 3600 kcal [metabolizable energy] ME/kg) to 49 days of age to determine the effect of alteration in nutrient density on carcass composition and efficiency of nutrient utilization. Abdominal and total carcass fat contents responded similarly to alterations in dietary protein and energy, whether expressed on a percentage or absolute weight basis. However, maximum protein deposition occurred with the 20% crude protein diet, in contrast to the increase in percent carcass protein observed above this level. Although percent carcass protein decreased throughout the energy range tested, absolute carcass protein remained constant regardless of the dietary energy level. Dietary protein exerted similar effects on both absolute and percent carcass moisture. However, an increase in dietary energy resulted in a decrease in percent carcass moisture and an increase in absolute carcass moisture. Protein utilization decreased with each increment of dietary protein but increases in dietary energy resulted in small increases in protein utilization throughout the range tested. Changes in dietary protein and energy resulted in small differences in efficiency of energy utilization. Regression equations derived for carcass composition demonstrated that although diet composition is inadequate as a predictor of carcass parameters, the addition of carcass moisture (%) to the equation improves the reliability of the estimate. Equations for the prediction of nutrient utilization from diet composition are also presented.