ABSTRACT 

This study was carried out to determine the effects of combined graded dietary levels of crude protein and essential amino acids on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, internal organ proportion, carcass nutrient composition, blood profile, and economics of production of turkeys. One hundred and thirty five day old poults were randomly allocated to dietary treatments in a 3x3 factorial experiment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated thrice with 5 poults per replicate. The experiment was divided into two phases, in the starter phase which lasted for eight (8) weeks the birds were fed the treatment diets contained  dietary crude protein at 3 levels (A1 28%, A2 26% and A3 24%) and  dietary amino acids at 3 levels each (Methionine: B1 0.15%, 0.25% and 0.35% and Lysine: B2 0.30%,0.50%,0.70%), whereas in the grower  phase which commenced from the nine^th and ended sixteen^th (9-16) weeks, the birds were given the treatment diets contained 3 levels of crude protein (AI 22%, A2 20%, and A3 18%) and 3 levels of amino acids each (Methionine:B10.10%,0.20% and 0.30% and Lysine: B2 0.20%,0.40%,0.60%). The study lasted for 16 weeks during which water and feed were given to the birds’ adlibitum. The initial body weight of the birds which ranged from (43.67 – 44.00g) per bird were not significantly different (P>0.05) from one another. The final weight of birds fed diet 3 at (0-16) weeks was significantly higher (P<0.05) than others followed by that of diet 9 whereas diet 2 has the least value (3050g), suggesting that high methionine and lysine with low protein is adequate to support the growth of birds. The feed intake of birds on diet 3 (133g) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than others, whereas the feed intake of birds fed diet 4 has the least value (115g). The weight gained and average daily weight gained took the same pattern with the final weight of birds. The weight gained of diet 3 (4589g) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than others whereas that of diet 2 has the least value (3006g). However, diet 3 has the best feed conversion ratio since it had the least numerical value (3.25f/g). This mean that diet 3 were utilized better by birds for weight gained than others. There was no mortality recorded during the cause of the experiment based on the treatment diets. There were significantly difference (P<0.05) in carcass yield, cut-parts and organ proportions parameters evaluated except the weight of the thigh. In carcass proximate nutrient composition both in starter and grower phases: (Crude protein, Ash, energy, Nitrogen free Extract and Ether extract) were all statistically different (P<0.05). Result showed that blood profile indices (hematology and serum chemistry) were significantly (P<0.05) influenced across the treatment groups. In the economics of production at (0- 16) weeks, diet 3 was significantly higher than others in almost all the parameters examined. However, Diet 3 and 9 gave the best results in this study and it should be recommended for local Turkey production which will in turn reduce the problem of low protein supply to humanity.