Influence of feed particle size on the efficiency of broiler chickens fed wheat-based diets

• Published in: The Journal of Poultry Science Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 135 - 142
• Main Authors: Lentle, R.G.(Massey Univ., Palmerston North (New Zealand)), Ravindran, V, Ravindran, G, Thomas, D.V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ibaraki Japan Poultry Science Association 2006; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: BLE; BROILER CHICKENS; DIET; DIETA; DIGESTION; EFFICACITE CONVERSION ALIMENTAIRE; EFICIENCIA DE CONVERSION DEL PIENSO; ENERGY VALUE; FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY; feed conversion ratio; FEED INTAKE; GAIN DE POIDS; GANANCIA DE PESO; GROSSEUR DES PARTICULES; INGESTION DE PIENSOS; PARTICLE SIZE; particle size distribution; POLLO DE ENGORDE; POULET DE CHAIR; PRISE ALIMENTAIRE (ANIMAUX); REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; TAMANO DE LA PARTICULA; TRIGO; VALEUR ENERGETIQUE; VALOR ENERGETICO; WEIGHT GAIN; wheat; WHEATS
• ISSN: 1346-7395; 1349-0486
• DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.43.135

In this study, we examined production efficiency in broiler chickens fed diets based on three wheat cultivars (Equinox, Regency and Claire) that resulted in different particle spectra (P0.05) on hammer milling to 4 mm, yet did not differ significantly in nutrient composition or non-starch polysaccharide content. The parameters evaluated in this 21-day feeding trial included weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, apparent metabolisable energy, transit time and relative losses of particle sizes of various classes during transit through the digestive tract. Weight gain, feed intake and apparent metabolisable energy were not (P0.05) influenced by the treatments. The mean transit time also did not differ significantly (P0.05) between diets, but the diet with the higher (P0.05) relative proportion of coarser particles and giving greatest (P0.05) reduction in the number of larger particles following digestion, resulted in the best (P0.05) feed conversion ratio in broiler chickens. The present data suggest that coarse feed particle size is advantageous in terms of feed efficiency in broilers fed wheat-based diets.