Table 5 Mean bodyweight gain (± SE) of ostrich at consecutive weeks of age fed diets containing different levels of energy and protein from 2nd to 9th week of age, kg per period

Energy, kcal · kg⁻¹ DM

2400

0.44^a ± 0.15

0.64^a ± 0.10

1.17^a ± 0.28

1.20^a ± 0.44

1.24^a ± 0.36

2.03^a ± 0.77

1.41^a ± 0.75

2.17^a ± 0.62

3.47^a ± 0.97

6.86^a ± 2.50

10.34^a ± 3.47

2600

0.28^b ± 0.10

0.47^b ± 0.08

0.83^b ± 0.19

0.97^a ± 0.26

0.99^a ± 0.33

1.27^b ± 0.53

1.41^a ± 0.49

1.81^a ± 0.18

2.56^b ± 0.63

5.49^b ± 1.44

8.05^b ± 2.07

Protein, % in diet

20

0.46^a ± 0.18

0.59^a ± 0.09

0.97^a ± 0.33

1.10^a ± 0.42

1.08^a ± 0.29

1.67^a ± 0.90

1.16^a ± 0.81

2.17^a ± 0.63

3.13^a ± 1.02

6.08^a ± 2.63

9.21^a ± 3.65

22

0.32^b ± 0.15

0.58^a ± 0.16

1.13^a ± 0.36

0.95^a ± 0.40

1.19^a ± 0.35

1.52^a ± 0.84

1.70^a ± 0.45

2.05^a ± 0.37

2.99^a ± 1.07

6.46^a ± 2.01

9.46^a ± 3.08

24

0.30^b ± 0.07

0.51^a ± 0.11

0.91^a ± 0.12

1.20^a ± 0.30

1.08^a ± 0.46

1.77^a ± 0.66

1.38^a ± 0.42

1.75^a ± 0.40

2.93^a ± 0.6

5.99^a ± 1.94

8.92^a ± 2.54

Energy (2400)—Protein (20)

0.59^a ± 0.17

0.62^a ± 0.13

1.17^ab ± 0.36

1.36^a ± 0.26

0.84^c ± 0.11

2.43^a ± 0.35

0.95^a ± 1.15

2.63^a ± 0.68

3.74^a ± 0.92

6.85^a ± 2.29

10.59^ab ± 3.21

Energy (2400)—Protein (22)

0.42^ab ± 0.11

0.71^a ± 0.11

1.39^a ± 0.14

0.89^a ± 0.58

1.45^a ± 0.27

1.64^ab ± 1.18

1.65^a ± 0.58

2.16^a ± 0.49

3.41^ab ± 0.94

6.90^a ± 2.52

10.31^a ± 3.46

Energy (2400)—Protein (24)

0.33^b ± 0.02

0.61^ab ± 0.04

0.97^b ± 0.15

1.36^a ± 0.38

1.45^a ± 0.29

2.03^ab ± 0.63

1.65^a ± 0.36

1.72^a ± 0.62

3.27^ab ± 0.59

6.85^a ± 1.90

10.12^a ± 2.49

Energy (2600)—Protein (20)

0.34^b ± 0.08

0.56^abc ± 0.04

0.77^b ± 0.14

0.85^a ± 0.43

1.32^ab ± 0.20

0.91^b ± 0.42

1.37^a ± 0.40

1.72^a ± 0.25

2.52^b ± 0.69

5.32^a ± 1.27

7.84^b ± 1.96

Energy (2600)—Protein (22)

0.22^b ± 0.12

0.46^bc ± 0.08

0.88^b ± 0.32

1.02^a ± 0.20

0.93^bc ± 0.22

1.41^ab ± 0.08

1.75^a ± 0.36

1.94^a ± 0.12

2.58^b ± 0.72

6.03^a ± 0.78

8.61^ab ± 1.50

Energy (2600)—Protein (24)

0.28^b ± 0.11

0.41^c ± 0.03

0.86^b ± 0.09

1.04^a ± 0.09

0.72^c ± 0.26

1.51^ab ± 0.71

1.11^a ± 0.32

1.79^a ± 0.11

2.59^b ± 0.32

5.13^a ± 1.40

7.72^b ± 1.72