Abstract
Two experiments were conducted with broiler chicks up to 4 weeks of age to compare the nutritive value of three high-protein barleys, No. 95, white, and black which were analysed for proximate composition. In experiment 1, chicks were fed diet 1 which consisted of 64% maize (control), and diets 2, 3, and 4 which consisted of 32% maize and 32% barley for each diet using the three barleys, respectively. Results showed that chicks fed diets 1 and 2 gained significantly (P < 0.05) more weight and had higher feed/gain ratio than chicks fed diets 3 and 4. High-protein barley No. 95 containing 14.22% protein was superior to white and black barleys containing 11.63 and 11.07% protein, respectively. The chicks in experiment 2 were fed three isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets which varied in the quantities of the three barleys and soya bean meal to test the effect of additional protein to barley of high-protein content. Results showed no significant (P > 0.05) differences in body weight, feed/gain ratio, and protein efficiency ratio among the three diets. Although the performance of chicks fed high-protein barley No. 95 was not statistically superior in this study, it can replace a portion of soya bean meal as a supplemental protein for broiler chicks.
