Inclusion of Stored Wheat in the Feed of Broilers Influences Intake, Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Digesta Viscosity from 1-21 Days of Age

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to examine the effect of replacing maize with new or stored wheat on the nutrient intake, digestibility, digesta viscosity, and growth performance of growing broilers from 1-21 days of age. For this purpose, 560 one-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly divided into seven experimental treatments, each with 8 replicates of 10 birds. The control diet was a corn soybean-based diet, while six other experimental treatments replaced the corn of the control diet with either 50% or 100% of new, 1.5 year, and 2.5-year-old wheat. The results showed that the replacement of corn with new wheat at 50% and 100% in the diet of broilers significantly reduced feed intake and body weight gain, and increased FCR (p<0.05) at week 3. Similarly, in the overall period of the starter phase (1-21 days), replacement of corn with new wheat at 50% and 100% in the diet of broilers significantly reduced feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and body weight gain, and increased digesta viscosity and FCR (p<0.05). Based on the findings of the current study, it is concluded that stored wheat successfully replaces corn and new wheat in the diet of broilers. Furthermore, stored wheat has a positive impact on feed intake, performance parameter, digesta viscosity, and nutrient digestibility as compared to new wheat.

Ileal Digestible and Metabolizable Energy of Corn, Wheat, and Barley in Growing Japanese Quail

“…Corn, wheat, and barley have different NSP contents, which can affect their digestibility and energy values. For example, corn has a lower NSP content compared to wheat and barley, which can make it more digestible [8,9]. The digestibility of NSPs in Japanese quails can vary depending on factors such as the type of NSP, the age of the bird, and the enzymes in the diet.…”

Effect of Triticale Grain in Diets on Performance, Development of Gastrointestinal Tract and Microflora in Crop and Ileum of Broiler Chickens

“…Higher amounts, from 20–40%, due to anti-nutritional substances have a negative effect on the deterioration of bird performance [ 19 ]. The process of storing grains and longer storage of more than three months has a positive effect on reducing their content and thus improving the performance of chickens, decreasing the viscosity of digesta, and improving nutrient digestibility [ 20 ]. On the other hand, the quality of grain also decreases with storage time [ 21 ].…”