Influence of Varying Dietary Kudzu Leaf Meal Particle Size on Performance, Breast Weight, and Organ Weight of Broiler Chickens from 1 to 21 Days of Age

Abstract

This research evaluated the influence of kudzu leaf meal particle size on body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion, breast weight, and organ weights of broilers. Treatments (4) included a control and kudzu leaf meal added to replace 2.5% soybean meal in a broiler starter diet at three particle sizes (1.00, 2.00, and 3.35 mm). Dietary treatments were fed to 240 male broilers over a 21 day grow out. Overall, there were no significant treatment effects for body weight, feed consumption, breast weight, or organ weights. There were no treatment effects for day 1 to 7 feed conversion (p > 0.05). There tended to be treatment differences for day 1 to 14 feed conversion (p = 0.052) and a significant effect between day 1 to 21 (p = 0.002). Feed conversion between day 1 to 21 was depressed at the 1.00 mm kudzu particle size. Based on this study, kudzu remains a viable protein source for inclusion in broiler diets and a particle size of 2 to 3 mm would be recommended.

Effect of Phytase Level and Form on Broiler Performance, Tibia Characteristics, and Residual Fecal Phytate Phosphorus in Broilers from 1 to 21 Days of Age

“…Dietary treatments were prepared at the Auburn University Animal Nutrition Center as described in Downs et al [ 29 ]. The phytase supplement was premixed with ground corn prior to its addition to the whole feed batch.…”