Formulation and proximate composition of the experimental diets.

aCarbohydrate (nitrogen-free extract) was calculate by difference (1000-moisture - crude protein - crude lipid – ash - crude fiber). bEnergy (ΚJ/g diet) = (%crude protein×23.6)+(%crude lipids×39.5)+ (%carbohydrates×17.3). cPremix supplied the following minerals (g/kg) and vitamins (IU or mg/kg): CuSO4·5H2O, 2.0g; FeSO4·7H2O, 25g; ZnSO4·7H2O, 22g; MnSO4·4H2O, 7 g; Na2SeO3, 0.04 g; KI, 0.026 g; CoCl2·6H2O, 0.1 g; Vitamin A, 900000IU; Vitamin D, 200000IU; Vitamin E, 4500 mg; Vitamin K3 , 220 mg; Vitamin B1, 320 mg; Vitamin B2, 1090 mg; Niacin, 2800 mg; Vitamin B5, 2000 mg; Vitamin B6, 500 mg; Vitamin B12, 1.6 mg; Vitamin C, 5000 mg; Pantothenate, 1000 mg; Folic acid, 165 mg; Choline, 60000 mg.