USING FODDER WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PROTEIN IN OSTRICHES FEEDING

Abstract

High profitability is a feature of ostrich breeding. Productivity indices in poultry depend largely on its feeding level. To achieve high rates of ostrich females laying laying ability indices the poultry should be provided with a sufficient amount of crude protein. Yet, nowadays there are different data on the optimal crude protein content in complete feed for ostriches, which requires additional research.

Protein is an important element of poultry nutritional diets and poultry productivity is affected with its level in the compound feed.

The issue of achieving high performance of the imported poultry productivity, including ostriches and its adaptability to feeding conditions has not been studied profoundly. Thus, the research aimed to determine the optimal levels of protein in the compound feed produced is topical.

The purpose of the research is to establish the optimal concentration of crude protein in the fodder for African ostriches.

For the experiment, 48 mature ostriches were divided on the basis of analogies into 4 groups the control and three experimental ones, 12 birds in each (8 females and 4 males).

The birds were fed with complete feed. The control variant feed contained 15% of crude protein. 2 nd experimental group ostriches consumed feed containing 16% of crude protein. The birds from the 3rd research we fed with feed containing 17% of crude protein. In the 4th experimental group the feed contained 18% of crude protein.

In the course of introducing additives into the feed a method of weighing and multi-mixing dispensing was used. The level of crude protein in the compound feed was regulated by introducing different amounts of skimmed milk into them. The content of other components of the feed was the same in both control and experimental samples.

It has been experimentally proved that African ostrich female laying ability was different under different levels of crude protein in the compound feed.

Crude protein increase to a certain level has a stimulating effect on. The control group female laid 36 eggs per season. The highest productivity was revealed in the 3rd experimental group. The laying ability index per female was higher than the that in the control variant by 17.5%. Gross eggs production in ostriches consuming the feed containing 17% of crude protein exceeded the control by 16.8%.

The results obtained in the 4th experimental group was similar to those of the third group. Poultry laying ability under feeding 18% of crude protein increased by 16.7% as compared to control.

In the course of studying the ostrich eggs weigh we found out that the highest indices  were in the 4th experimental group where the poultry consumed feed containing 18% of crude protein. The eggs weight was higher than that in the control by 7.9%.

Similar results were found in egg weight in the 3rd experimental group, where the index prevailed the data on the control by 7.6%. Having compared the eggs weigh with that of the 4th experimental group we found out that the difference between the rates was only 0.2%, which is likely to have no significance.

It has been experimentally proved that using feed with crude protein mass fraction of 16% (2^nd experimental group) caused a tendency to increase egg weight compared to the control.

Thus, analysis of the female ostrich laying ability and the egg weight we found out that the optimal protein content in the fodder is 17%. Using feed containing 18% of crude gave similar results. Therefore, considering economic aspect of the feed cost  and egg productivity using feed containing 17% of crude protein is more appropriate.

Conclusions. The following conclusions can be made on the basis of the detailed analysis and the research results synthesis.

It is noted that the highest rates of laying abilities and gross egg productivity  in African ostriches was observed in birds of the 3rd and 4th experimental group, where the level of crude protein in the diet was 17 and 18%. Feeding this feed to African ostriches resulted in the increase in egg production and an increase in gross eggs production compared to the control.

It was established that the optimal content of crude protein in feed for African ostriches in oviposition period is 17%. Feeding females ostriches with feed containing 17% of crude protein is accompanied with increased productivity by 17.5%.

Increased levels of crude protein in the diet for African ostriches improves the performance of the 3rd and 4th experimental groups where the eggs average weight is higher by 8% compared to birds of the control group.

Conducting balance experiments on using  animal feed with different content of crude protein is a promising research area.