Table 3 Mean feed intake ratio (± SE) of ostrich at consecutive weeks of age fed diets containing the different levels of energy and protein from 2nd to 9th week of age, kg per period

Energy, kcal · kg⁻¹ DM

2400

0.43^a ± 0.20

1.13^a ± 0.25

1.17^a ± 0.22

1.93^a ± 0.40

2.31^a ± 0.63

2.91^a ± 0.47

2.71^a ± 0.41

3.80^a ± 0.59

4.67^a ± 1.07

11.74^a ± 2.10

16.42^a ± 3.17

2600

0.39^a ± 0.21

0.50^b ± 0.12

1.04^a ± 0.22

2.06^a ± 0.45

1.91^a ± 0.40

2.00^b ± 0.55

2.67^a ± 0.53

3.32^a ± 0.86

4.00^a ± 1.00

9.91^b ± 2.34

13.92^b ± 3.34

Protein, % in diet

20

0.48^a ± 0.22

0.96^a ± 0.36

1.23^a ± 0.13

1.92^a ± 0.37

2.23^a ± 0.51

2.37^a ± 0.84

2.43^a ± 0.52

3.45^a ± 0.55

4.60^a ± 1.08

10.49^a ± 2.42

15.09^a ± 3.50

22

0.48^a ± 0.22

1.02^a ± 0.26

1.04^a ± 0.29

2.17^a ± 0.23

2.05^a ± 0.77

2.42^a ± 0.76

2.77^a ± 0.51

3.95^a ± 0.52

4.71^a ± 1.00

11.20^a ± 2.56

15.92^a ± 3.56

24

0.28^a ± 0.05

0.47^b ± 0.24

1.05^a ± 0.21

1.89^a ± 0.59

2.06^a ± 0.39

2.57^a ± 0.53

2.88^a ± 0.25

3.28^a ± 1.02

3.70^a ± 1.09

10.79^a ± 2.19

14.49^a ± 3.28

Energy (2400)—Protein (20)

0.34^b ± 0.14

1.25^a ± 0.24

1.26^a ± 0.17

2.10^a ± 0.15

2.47^a ± 0.39

2.96^a ± 0.42

2.60^a ± 0.36

3.53^a ± 0.39

4.95^ab ± 0.70

11.56^a ± 1.56

16.51^a ± 2.26

Energy (2400)—Protein (22)

0.67^a ± 0.11

1.23^a ± 0.20

1.12^a ± 0.34

2.28^a ± 0.08

2.22^a ± 1.06

2.79^ab ± 0.74

2.75^a ± 0.72

4.10^a ± 0.54

5.30^a ± 0.73

11.86^a ± 3.06

17.16^a ± 3.79

Energy (2400)—Protein (24)

0.30^b ± 0.03

0.91^b ± 0.22

1.14^a ± 0.16

1.42^b ± 0.15

2.26^a ± 0.51

3.00^a ± 0.35

2.79^a ± 0.03

3.77^a ± 0.85

3.77^c ± 0.56

11.82^a ± 1.74

15.59^a ± 2.30

Energy (2600)—Protein (20)

0.62^a ± 0.23

0.67^bc ± 0.09

1.21^a ± 0.10

1.75^ab ± 0.49

2.00^a ± 0.58

1.79^b ± 0.75

2.26^a ± 0.68

3.38^a ± 0.77

4.25^abc ± 0.91

9.43^a ± 2.78

13.68^a ± 3.69

Energy (2600)—Protein (22)

0.29^b ± 0.07

0.81^bc ± 0.06

0.97^a ± 0.27

2.06^a ± 0.30

1.89^a ± 0.52

2.06^ab ± 0.71

2.80^a ± 0.14

3.80^a ± 0.62

4.13^bc ± 0.70

10.55^a ± 1.99

14.68^a ± 2.69

Energy (2600)—Protein (24)

0.26^b ± 0.07

0.04^c ± 0.55

0.96^a ± 0.24

2.37^a ± 0.52

1.86^a ± 0.11

2.15^ab ± 0.20

2.97^a ± 0.36

2.79^a ± 1.08

3.63^ab ± 1.38

9.77^a ± 11.75

13.40^a ± 13.13