Chemical Composition and Nutritive Value of Naked Oats (Avena nuda L.) in Broiler Diets

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted using broiler chicks to evaluate naked oats (Avena nuda L.) as a potential feed ingredient. Experiment 1 was designed to provide the chemical composition of naked oats (NO) and assess its metabolizable energy. Naked oats contained a low concentration of avenin and was superior to corn with respect to the amino acid profile and mineral content. The total lipid content of NO (6.85%) with 30.9% linoleic acid was higher than that of most cereal grains and contributed to a relatively high metabolizable energy value of 3.18 kcal/g. The NO had .4% phosphorus with a total phytic acid concentration of 1.07%.In Experiment 2, broiler chicks were fed diets containing 0 to 69% NO from day-old to 7 weeks of age. Body weight at 3 weeks was significantly depressed in birds fed the oat-soybean diet (69% NO). This trend continued to market age, but a significant difference in body weight was not detected at 7 weeks. Increased abdominal fat was evident in birds fed 40% NO. Shrinkage, dressing percentage, carcass water uptake, skin dry matter, and skin color were not significantly affected by dietary treatments. Bone strength, evaluated in a three-point loading flexure test, declined as the amount of NO increased in the diet. It is suggested that phosphorus deficiency is precipitated by the relatively high phytic acid content of the oat-soybean diet. Naked oats may be used at 40% inclusion in broiler diets wim no adverse effect on growth, feed efficiency, shrinkage, dressing percentage or bone strength. (

Evaluation of naked oat (Avena nuda) in the broiler chicken diet

“…(Cave et al 1990). Thus the present conclusion as to the utility of naked oat in the broiler starter diet differs from those of Guillaume and Cabet (19'73) and Maurice et al (1985) who reported detrimental effects on growth. Hulan et al (1981) (Friend et al 1988) and of the lower bio-availability of lipids, associated with the ingestion of oat gum (Cave et al 1990).…”

Naked oats in grower and finisher diets for male chicken roasters and female turkey broilers

“…The data, as presented, span the growing and finishing periods because no effects of level of dietary naked oats were apparent within either of these periods. The lack of differences among the dietary treatments parallels the results ofprevious broiler studies regarding the variables of body weight (Maurice et al 1985), weight gain (Cave and Burrows 1985) and feed efficiency (Maurice et al 1985).…”

“…Cave et al (1990) reported that treatment with the enzyme p-glucanase reduced the effect ofB-glucan on growth, confirming the adverse effect of this polysaccharide. Maurice et al (1985) reported that 60% naked oats in broiler diets reduced bone strength and increased the incidence of leg deformities at 7 wk of age. These detrimental effects of naked oats were considered to be due to a phosphorus deficiency caused by a relatively high phytic acid content in the diet.…”

“…In a shrdy conducted by Maurice et al (1985), broiler chicks were fed diets containing0-69% naked oats. (Table 4).…”

Three hulless oat varieties show economic potential as organic layer feed grain

“…A broiler feeding trial carried out by Maurice et al (1985) concluded that naked oats could constitute up to 400 g kg −1 of dietary intake without adverse effects on meat quality and production. A study of laying hens demonstrated that egg yields and feed utilization were equal where hulless oats were substituted for corn and soy, though at a high proportion (600 g kg ) of dietary intake, oats were associated with a 4-day delay in sexual maturity (Cave et al, 1989).…”