Influence of method of wheat inclusion and pellet diameter on performance, nutrient utilisation, digestive tract measurements and carcass characteristics of broilers

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Singh ◽  
V. Ravindran

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of method of wheat inclusion and pellet diameter on performance, nutrient utilisation, digestive tract development and carcass characteristics of broilers. The experimental design was a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, which included three diet forms, namely ground wheat (GW) and 200 g/kg whole wheat (WW) replacing GW before or after pelleting, and two pellet diameters (3.0 and 4.76 mm). Experimental diets were offered ad libitum from Day 11 to Day 35 post-hatch. Pellet durability index was higher (P < 0.05) in GW diets and deteriorated (P < 0.05) with pre-pelleting inclusion of WW when the larger die was used. Larger pellet diameter increased (P < 0.05) the weight gain and lowered (P < 0.05) feed per gain of birds fed diets with GW and post-pellet inclusion of WW. However, in birds fed diets with pre-pelleting inclusion of WW, the larger pellet diameter lowered (P < 0.05) feed intake and weight gain, and increased (P < 0.05) feed per gain. Relative gizzard weight was increased (P < 0.05) by larger pellet diameter with pre-pelleting inclusion of WW, but was unaffected (P > 0.05) in diets containing GW or post-pellet inclusion of WW. Irrespective of the method of WW inclusion, larger pellet diameter increased (P < 0.05) the apparent metabolisable energy and ileal starch digestibility. Larger pellet diameter was associated with reductions (P < 0.05) in the relative length and weight of all components of the digestive tract in GW-fed birds, but had no effect (P > 0.05) on these parameters in birds fed WW diets. Larger pellet diameter increased (P < 0.05) carcass yield in the GW group, reduced (P < 0.05) in the pre-pelleting WW group and had no effect in the post-pelleting WW group. Overall, these results showed that the effect of pellet diameter on broiler performance varied depending on the form of wheat and method of WW inclusion. Adverse effects on weight gain in the pre-pelleting WW group were due primarily to reduced feed intake resulting from poor pellet quality.

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 704 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Amerah ◽  
V. Ravindran

The aim of the present experiment was to examine the interaction between particle size and microbial phytase supplementation on the performance, nutrient utilisation and digestive tract development of broiler starters fed maize-based diets. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating two maize particle sizes (medium and coarse) and two levels of phytase supplementation (without or with 500 phytase units/kg diet). The two particle sizes were achieved by grinding the whole maize in a hammer mill to pass through 3- and 7-mm screens, respectively. Broiler starter diets, based on maize and soybean meal, were formulated to meet recommended requirements for major nutrients, except phosphorus. Each of the four diets was fed ad libitum to six pens of eight male broilers each, from day 1 to day 21 post-hatching. Phytase supplementation increased (P < 0.001) the feed intake and weight gain, and lowered (P < 0.05) feed per gain in both medium and coarse particle size diets. Coarse grinding improved (P < 0.05) weight gain, but had no effect (P > 0.05) on feed intake and feed per gain. No interactions (P > 0.05) between phytase supplementation and particle size were observed for any of the performance parameters. Phytase supplementation increased (P < 0.001) ileal phosphorus digestibility and toe ash content of birds fed the medium particle size diet, but had no effect in those fed the coarse particle size diet. Apparent metabolisable energy and ileal digestibility of calcium and nitrogen were not influenced by particle size or phytase supplementation. The present findings suggest that the effectiveness of supplemental phytase on broiler performance is not influenced by the particle size of maize.


2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Amerah ◽  
V. Ravindran ◽  
R. G. Lentle

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of wheat hardness and xylanase supplementation on the performance, energy utilisation, digestive tract development and digesta parameters of broilers fed wheat-based diets. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating wheat hardness (soft or hard) with or without xylanase supplementation. Two diets based on soft or hard wheat were formulated. Whole wheat (200 g/kg) from the same wheat batch replaced ground wheat before cold-pelleting of each diet. Each diet was fed ad libitum to six pens of eight male broilers each from day 1 to 21 posthatch. The distribution of particle size differed between diets, with the hard wheat diet having 32.7% of particles greater than 1 mm in size compared with 18.7% in the soft wheat diet. Interactions (P < 0.05) were observed between wheat hardness and enzyme supplementation for weight gain, feed intake, feed per gain and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn). Enzyme supplementation increased (P < 0.05) weight gain in the soft wheat-based diet but not in the hard wheat diet. Enzyme supplementation also increased (P < 0.05) feed intake in the soft wheat-based diet, but reduced (P < 0.05) intake in the hard wheat diet. Feed per gain and AMEn were improved (P < 0.05) by enzyme supplementation in the hard wheat-based diet, while no enzyme effect was observed in the soft wheat diet. Feeding the hard wheat-based diet increased (P < 0.05) the relative gizzard weight, and this was associated with a general increase in finer particles in the proximal intestinal digesta when compared with those present in the diet. These results suggest that the response of broilers to xylanase supplementation is influenced by wheat hardness and that wheat hardness may be an important criterion to consider when choosing for whole wheat inclusion in broiler diets.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 1692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sima Sarlak ◽  
Sayed Ali Tabeidian ◽  
Abasali Gheisari

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of time of initiation of feeding after hatching and influence of diet composition on growth performance, carcass characteristics, digestive tract development and immune responses of broilers. A total of straight-run 420 Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to six treatments with five replicates of 14 chicks each. The dietary treatments consisted of feeding a maize-soybean meal diet immediately posthatching until 14 days of age (Control), fasting for 24 or 48 h posthatching, feeding maize for 24–48 h posthatching, and feeding a maize gluten-dextrose pre-starter diet for 5 days posthatching. The study lasted from 0 to 42 days of age. For the entire 42-day period, chicks fasted or fed maize for 48 h posthatching or those fed the maize gluten-dextrose diet for 5 days posthatching had lower (P &lt; 0.05) feed intake and lower (P &lt; 0.05) weight gain compared with the Control. However, birds fasted or those fed maize for 24 or 48 h posthatching had similar (P &gt; 0.05) feed intake and weight gain as the Control. The duodenal villus height and villus height:crypt depth ratio were lower (P &lt; 0.05) and the duodenal crypt depth was higher (P &lt; 0.05) in birds fasted for 48 h posthatching compared with the Control. Conversely, birds fasted for 48 h posthatching had higher (P &lt; 0.05) jejunal villus height and villus height:crypt depth ratio and lower (P &lt; 0.05) jejunal crypt depth compared with the Control. The antibody titres against Newcastle disease was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for the groups other than the Control, whereas the antibody titres against Avian Influenza virus was lower (P &lt; 0.05) in birds fasted for 48 h posthatching and in those fed maize for 48 h posthatching compared with the Control. Also, birds fed maize for 24 h posthatching had lower (P &lt; 0.05) antibody titres against sheep red blood cells compared with the other treatments. These results indicated that feeding a maize-soybean meal starter diet immediately after hatch has a beneficial effect on growth performance and immune response of broilers and improves morphological development of the intestine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (6supl2) ◽  
pp. 4009-4022
Author(s):  
Thiago Rodrigues da Silva ◽  
◽  
Karina Márcia Ribeiro de Souza Nascimento ◽  
Charles Kiefer ◽  
Luanna Lopes Paiva Copat ◽  
...  

The present study proposes to examine the effect of dietary levels of metabolizable energy, under a fixed nutrient:calorie ratio, on the production performance; body fat and protein deposition; and carcass characteristics of free-range broilers from 1 to 84 days of age. Nine hundred unsexed chicks were allocated to six treatments in a completely randomized design with six replicates of 25 birds each. Treatments consisted of diets with varying levels of metabolizable energy (2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100 and 3200 Kcal ME/kg of diet) and a fixed proportion of nutrients relative to the energy level according to the nutritional requirements for each rearing phase. Body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, production viability, metabolizable energy intake, protein intake, lysine intake, body fat deposition, body protein deposition and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and, later, to regression analysis. Increasing levels of metabolizable energy, coupled with a fixed nutrient:calorie ratio, reduced feed intake, increased body weight and weight gain, improved feed conversion and did not affect carcass characteristics. In conclusion, adjusting the nutrient supply according to the dietary energy level improves production performance by improving feed conversion, ensuring adequate nutrient intake and preserving fat and protein deposition in the carcass when the metabolizable energy level is raised up to 3200 Kcal/kg in all rearing stages.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-113
Author(s):  
O. R Folorunso ◽  
E. A. O. Laseinde ◽  
G. E. Onibi

n eight week study was conducted to assess the performance, carcass characteristics and haematological indices of broiler chickens provided water from different sources. One hundred and fifty day - old broiler chicks (Arbor acre) were randomly allocated to five treatment groups (rain, stream, pipe borne water, well and borehole water respectively) in a completely randomized experimental design. The borehole water was obtained from a residential building, about 500 m to the experimental site (Federal College of Agriculture (FECA), Akure, Nigeria). Rainwater was harvested when it rained and was stored in plastic containers before it was used. It was not stored for more than three days before use. Stream water was obtained from a stream that flowed close to the students' residential area of FECA. It is sometimes drunk and is typical of streams that flow in a typical village community. Well water was obtained from a well sunk within the premises of the FECA. It was a well from where people fetched water for domestic use and was provided to the birds without prior treatment. Pipe borne water was obtained from the Water Corporation Mains that supplies FECA and Ijapo Estate, Akure. Results from the experiment revealed that there were no significant (P>0.05) differences among the treatments in terms of water intake, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics, relative weight of some organs, muscle dimensions and haematological parameters. Pipe borne water had the highest numerical values (P>0.05) for most of the performance and carcass characteristic indices measured, such as daily water intake (181.53±14.6), cumulative water intake (8.90±.71), daily feed intake (106.27±4.15), cumulative feed intake (5.21±0.20), daily weight gain (38.53±2.38), total weight gain (1.89±0.12), final weight gain (1.98±0.12), percent dressed weight (97.11±0.16%), percent eviscerated weight (81.86±3.26%), relative weights of drumstick (99.37±5.43g/kg), wings (89.10±9.69g/kg), chest (170.08±6.59g/kg) and back (159.40±18.90g/kg live weight) respectively. Water from different sources (rain, well, pipe borne water, borehole and stream) had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the performance indices, considered in the study for broiler chickens. This implies that the aforementioned water sources can be used to raise broiler chickens provided such water is free from any contaminants that could impair the health of the birds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-114
Author(s):  
M. Afolayan ◽  
M. M. Iliya ◽  
G. S. Bawa ◽  
L. Alayande

The progressive increase in the cost and scarcity of conventional feedstuffs, especially energy and protein sources has resulted into a continuous effort in researching into the possible utilization of the under - exploited wild legumes in poultry feed formulation. Several Researchers had reported on the utilization of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in poultry diets whereas; few reports exist on the utilization of Moringa seed. Therefore, this study wasconducted to evaluate the effect of graded dietary levels of moringa seed cake (MSC) on the performance of broiler chickens. A total of 195, one day old Arbor Acre broiler chicks were randomly assigned into five dietary treatments of moringa seed cake, each treatment having three replicates in a completely randomized design. MSC was included at levels of 0, 5,10, 15 and 20% respectively. Feed and water were given ad- libitum. Proximate composition ofMSC showed that it is high in energy, crude protein and ether extract with3304. 39 ME kcals/ kg, 32.49 % and 17.70%, respectively. Birds fed 5% MSC diet were better than the birds on the other levels of MSC diets in terms of growth and carcass characteristics. The results obtained from growth study revealed a significant declined in, final weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio as the inclusion levels of MSC increased beyond 5% in thediets. The birds on control diet had the best result in terms of final weight , daily weight gain and daily feed intake of 2974g/bird, 52.4g/bird / day and 107.51g/bird/ day respectively followed by those fed diet containing 5% MSC with 2183.4g/bird, 38.24/bird /day and 95.66g/bird /day respectively. whereas, the birds fed 20% MSC had the least (P>0.05) final weight, daily weight gain and daily feed intake of 560 g/bird, 9.26g/bird /day and 33.51g/bird/day respectively. Carcass characteristics followed similar trend as the growth parameters. Hematological indices showed significant differences across the dietary treatments, however, the results were within the normal range except for the white blood cell. It can therefore be, concluded that the inclusion of MSC in broiler chicken diet should not exceed 5% for optimum growth and general performance. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (12) ◽  
pp. 2129-2138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Y. Liu ◽  
Peter H. Selle ◽  
David Raubenheimer ◽  
David J. Cadogan ◽  
Stephen J. Simpson ◽  
...  

AbstractThe right-angled triangle mixture experiment was designed to include fourteen diets with different concentrations of starch, protein and lipid. Experimental diets were offered to male Ross 308 broiler chickens from 10 to 23 d after hatching, and response curves and surfaces were generated to illustrate the influence of macronutrients on growth performance and nutrient utilisations. Despite the primary function of macronutrients, especially protein, may not be providing energy, macronutrients were expressed as energy derived from starch, protein and fat for statistical purposes in the mixture design. Energy derived from lipid had a greater impact on feed intake than energy derived from starch and protein. When we compared the influence of starch and protein on feed intake, ‘equal distance rule’ was observed, which means the animal consumes feed to the point on its respective nutritional rails where the shortage of starch exactly equals the surplus of consumed protein. Increasing the protein-derived energy intake increased weight gain in broiler chickens, whereas energy intake derived from starch and lipid had little impact on weight gain. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) may be reduced by either increasing protein energy intake or decreasing starch energy intake. As the slope of the contours was less than 1, the influence of starch energy intakes on FCR exceeded that of protein energy intakes. In conclusion, energy derived from protein is more important than non-protein energy in terms of weight gain, and a balance between protein and energy supplies is required for efficient muscle protein deposition.


Author(s):  
M. R. Abdollahi ◽  
F. Zaefarian ◽  
Y. Gu ◽  
W. Xiao ◽  
J. Jia ◽  
...  

SummaryThe influence of different inclusion levels of a biologically active peptide derived from soybeans by enzymatic hydrolysis, on growth performance, foot pad lesions and carcass characteristics in broilers were examined in this study. Starter (1 to 21 d) and finisher (22 to 42 d) diets, based on maize and soybean meal, were subjected to seven inclusion levels of a commercial soybean bioactive peptide (SBP) product (Fortide, Chengdu Mytech Biotech Co. Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan, China) at 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 g/kg of diet. All diets were equivalent in respect of energy density, digestible amino acids and other nutrients. A total of 840, one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were allocated to 42 pens (20 birds/pen), which were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments. During the starter period, there was no significant effect of SBP on weight gain and feed intake of the birds. However, a significant (P < 0.05) effect of SBP was observed for the feed conversion ratio (FCR), with SBP inclusion at 3.0 g/kg and above showing lower (P < 0.05) FCR values compared to the diet with no SBP. No effect of SBP was observed for weight gain and feed intake over the whole trial period. However, SBP inclusion tended (P = 0.06) to influence the FCR of birds. Increasing SBP inclusion level resulted in gradual decrease in FCR values, with SBP inclusion at 5.0 and 6.0 g/kg showing lower FCR values compared to the diet with no SBP. Overall, the present study suggests that dietary supplementation of SBP in broiler diets has the potential to improve FCR and to be used as a novel functional protein in poultry diets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cebisa Kumanda ◽  
Victor Mlambo ◽  
Caven Mnisi

The disposal of red grape pomace (GP) in landfills and by incineration has negative impacts on the environment. It is, therefore, imperative that alternative and sustainable ways of managing this waste product are identified. Using GP as a source of nutrients and beneficial bioactive compounds in avian diets is a potential waste-reduction and valorization strategy that promotes sustainable agriculture. However, there is limited information on the valorization of GP for this purpose. This study, therefore, investigated the effect of dietary inclusion of GP on growth performance, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and breast meat quality traits of broilers. Four hundred, two-week old Cobb 500 broilers (279.2 ± 18.87 g) were allocated to 40 pens. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated by including GP in commercial broiler diets at 0 (GP0), 2.5 (GP25), 4.5 (GP45); 5.5% (GP55); and 7.5% (GP75). Feed intake, weight gain, feed utilization efficiency, hematology, serum biochemistry, carcass characteristics, and breast meat quality traits were measured. Chickens on GP75 had the least feed intake (p < 0.05) but there were no dietary effects on weight gain. Birds on GP0 had the highest (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (1.79) while those fed GP75 had the lowest (p < 0.05) ratio (1.45). Breast meat from broilers offered GP75 had the highest (p < 0.05) redness value (0.75) while the GP0 diet promoted the least (p < 0.05) redness value (0.49). Broilers fed GP55 and GP75 diets had higher (p < 0.05) feed conversion efficiency compared to GP0 birds. Inclusion of GP in broiler diets has the potential to reduce feed costs, thus making this valorization strategy a sustainable alternative to current pomace disposal methods. Adoption of this waste-reduction and valorization strategy promotes sustainable agriculture by contributing to food security and environmental stewardship.


Author(s):  
G. Madhuri ◽  
B. Swathi ◽  
P. Radhakrishna ◽  
D. Nagalakshmi

The effect of replacing an antibiotic growth promoter in the diet with a probiotic on growth performance, carcass characteristics and nutrient retention was studied in broilers (Vencobb 430) fed with and without meat cum bone meal (MBM). This experiment which lasted for 42 days consisted of six dietary treatments viz., basal diet (BD), basal diet with MBM (MBM), basal diet with antibiotic (AB), basal diet with probiotic (PB), basal diet with MBM and antibiotic (MBM+AB) and basal diet with MBM and probiotic (MBM+PB). Three-hundred, day-old chicks were randomly allotted in the beginning to these six groups. Body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P less than 0.05) affected at 4th week of age. Overall, highest body weight gain was recorded in birds fed with AB and PB. Inclusion of probiotic in MBM also showed improved body weight gain when compared to MBM group. Highest feed intake and feed conversion ratio was recorded with AB and PB groups. Birds supplemented with MBM+PB showed improved feed intake and feed efficiency when compared to MBM+AB and MBM diet supplemented groups. Higher dry matter, crude protein, calcium and phosphorus retention (P less than 0.05) was observed in birds supplemented with PB or AB in diet without MBM when compared to their control. In MBM supplemented groups addition of PB or AB improved crude protein retention. Birds supplemented with PB or AB with or without MBM showed a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in thigh yield and a non significant reduction in fat yield when compared to their control groups.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document