4/19/13 Whole Grain Feeding of Broilers - Engormix

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Whole Grain Feeding of Broilers Videos (21)

Published on: 04/08/2013

Author/s : Dr. Nischal Sharma (Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Nepal)

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Introduction Last days of incubation and early feeding.

E. Decuypere (Katholieke Universteit
In recent times, there has been interest in the utilisation of whole grains to improve bird performance and Leuven)
reduce feed costs. Some previous research on whole grains simply added to a starter diet at graded levels From: Eddy Decuypere
has shown variable results on performance. Some studies have shown improved FCR, lower mortality, plus
some carcass improvements and economic advantage. In an effort to develop a good method of feeding
whole grains for economic advantage, a trial was conducted in broilers.

Five hundred and twenty straight run day old unsexed broiler (Cobb 500) chicks from Sikhar
Hatchery, Chitwan, Nepal were used in the trial. On day 6, 480 chicks were divided into four treatment groups Publications (140)
replicated six times each such that each experimental unit consisted of 20 chicks. The birds were reared in
Form ulating Feed for Broiler
deep litter bed made up of rice husk. The feed was manufactured in crumbled form by Probiotech Industries
Perform ance
Pvt Limited, Nepal. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The four dietary treatments were: T1: Starter
Every year the marketing age of broilers
crumble + grower crumble changing to grower at 16 days of age; T2: starter crumble plus whole wheat; T3: decreases by an average of 0.75 days f...
starter crumble plus cracked maize; and T4: starter crumble plus whole bajra (pearl millet). The percentage of
whole grain dilution in starter feed is shown in Table 1. Feed Polysaccharides: Nutritional
Roles and Effect of Enzym es
INTRODUCTION Cereal grains and
vegetable protein sources contain
betw een 10-...

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Im proving the nutritive value of
alternative feed ingredients for
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Hello Joaquin, My email address is
piji@une.edu.au - Prof Paul Please send
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Dear Dr. Sharma & Dr. Ajeet You both
represented valuable article regarding the
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Professional Services
Er T.Rajaboopathy Tamil
Nadu [Madras] , India

Kb Bohara Bagmati, Nepal

Md.akhtar-uz-zaman,
Zaman Bangladesh

Dr. Muhammad Ramzan

Abu Zaby, United Arab
Emirates

Maize, wheat and bajra with CP 7.6%, 10.9% and 9.8% were used as whole grains.
Go to Professionals Guide
Treatment birds received whole grains, starting with 5% dilution from day 6, and increasing the
quantities every five days to end up with 30% dilution from day 31- 37.

Diet Composition
Products
The birds were harvested after 37 days for carcass evaluation (carcass yield, breast yield, thigh
yield, drumstick, gizzard, intestine, back, wings and liver).
Agranco Corp.
Performance
Agracid S

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4/19/13 Whole Grain Feeding of Broilers - Engormix
The birds had no difficulty in consuming crumble starter and whole grain mixtures from day 6 onwards without
selection and the mixture was seen as homogenous throughout the trial. Average whole grain intake at day 37
was 21% of the total feed intake.

LW at 37 days was considerably poorer in the three whole grain treatments (Table 3). Cracked corn was Agranco Corp.
closest to the control, being some 100g behind. Feed consumption of the whole grain treatments was lower
than the control. It is suggested that the lower feed consumption as responsible for the slower growth of the Agracid P
whole grain treatments.

Ayurvet Limited

VILOCYM Z

Agranco Corp.

Endure

NUTREX

Nuvisol

Interestingly, FCR in 2 of the whole grain treatments was equal to the control, at 1.70. This was the maize and
bajra treatments.

Lower carcass yield and breast yield were noted in whole grain treated diets except cracked maize (Table 4).
Whole grains produced a larger gizzard P<0.01). This represents a more functional gizzard. Gizzard yield was See more products
increased by 42.42%, 34.85% and 35.1% with whole wheat, cracked maize and pearl millet respectively.
Cracked maize produced smaller intestine (P<0.05) as compared to others. This may represent a more
efficient intestine, which would use less energy for maintenance.

Lower performance and carcass yield with whole grain treatments may be due to low amino acids/protein
in starter diets.

Economic analysis

Economic analysis favoured cracked maize and whole bajra treatments. Cracked maize and whole
bajra generating net profits of NRs. 12.3/ bird and NRs. 6.48/bird respectively (NRs: Nepali Rupees). In terms
of net return Whole wheat: NRs. (124.07- 137.47)= loss of NRs. 13.40/bird Cracked maize: NRs.
(149.77- 137.47)= gain of NRs. 12.3/bird Whole bajra: NRs. (143.95- 137.47)= gain of NRs. 6.48/bird.

Conclusions

Several researches have been conducted with a feeding program using whole grains, especially whole wheat,
barley or maize. They were generally added to starter, grower or finisher diets at certain levels or simply to a
starter diets changing the diet specification on a certain interval. These researches have generally shown
improved FCR, lower mortality, plus some carcass improvements and economic advantage.

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4/19/13 Whole Grain Feeding of Broilers - Engormix
This is the first time whole pearl millet (bajra) has been tested. This trial tested three whole grains viz. whole
wheat, cracked maize and pearl millet inclusions in starter crumble (dig. lysine 1.20%) to see the performance
and carcass characteristics of broilers. Treatment birds received whole grains, starting with 5% dilution from
day 6, and increasing the quantities every five days to end up with 30% dilution from day 31- 37.

Feed intake was significantly reduced in whole grain added diets; the lowest feed intake being noted in whole
wheat diet followed by bajra and cracked maize diets. Chickens were able to pick whole grains comfortably
from day 6 and there were no wastage of grains in the litter.

All three whole grain treatments had poorer growth as compared with the control. The cracked
maize treatment however performed almost equal to that of the control, being 105 grams lighter and with
equal FCR (1.70). Carcass parameters were poorer with the whole grain treatments, but again the
cracked maize was very similar to the control. Poor performance and carcass yield with whole grain
treatments may be due to low amino acids/protein in starter diets.

Economic analysis favoured cracked maize and whole bajra treatments; cracked maize generating net profit
of NRs. 12.3/bird and bajra producing a net gain of NRs. 6.48/bird. This trial has demonstrated that it is
possible to develop a method of feeding broilers based on use of whole grains. Clearly some
further refinements of the program is necessary before we can be confident that whole grain feeding
programs will offer performance levels at least equal to a standard crumble/pellet program. Most likely this will
require use of a higher nutrient specification starter diet.

Nepal 30% Wheat Dilution on Starter

Poultry Industry Prestone Katete

Home Forums Technical articles Professionals Guide News Events Companies & products Thematic index Videos Photos

Nepal Whole Wheat in Gizzard

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4/19/13 Whole Grain Feeding of Broilers - Engormix

Crumble Corn

Author/s
Dr. Nischal Sharma
Dr Nishchal Sharma is Senior Manager in Sales and Technical at Probiotech Industries Pvt Ltd in Kathmandu,
Nepal.

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