Performance and carcass characteristics of broilers fed whole corn germ

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of including whole corn germ (WCG) on the performance; diet metabolizability; yields of carcass, cuts, and offal; and quality of meat of broilers. A total of 648 chicks were assigned to six treatments in a completely randomized design with six replicates, with 18 birds in each. Treatments consisted of a corn-and soybean meal-based control diet (0 g kg −1 WCG) and five test diets including WCG at the levels of 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200 g kg −1. Birds and diets were weighed at each seven days to determine feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The partial collection methodology was employed to determine the apparent metabolizable energy (AME), nitrogen-corrected AME (AME n), and the apparent metabolizability coefficients of gross energy (AMC GE), dry matter (AMC DM), crude protein (AMC CP), and ether extract (AMC EE) of the diets. In the evaluation of meat quality, we analyzed the pH, cooking losses, shear force, waterholding capacity, color, and peroxide index of the meat. There was a difference for BWG and FCR in the total rearing period (1 to 42 days), for which optimum BWG was estimated as 2921 g/bird, with 118 g kg −1 inclusion of WCG. There was no difference for the AME, AME n , and AMC CP of the diets, although AMC GE , AMC DM , and AMC EE declined as WCG was included. The increasing levels of WCG did not influence the yields of carcass and cuts or the meat quality. There was an increase in the yield of gizzard and proventriculus. Whole corn germ can be used at low levels in the diet of broilers without compromising their productive rates.

Cereal by-products as alternative energy sources in poultry diets: A review

“…Qi et al (2022) [29] found that maize germ meal could be included in the diets of growing ducks up to 12% without adversely affecting their growth performance, serum biochemical indexes, carcass characteristics, meat quality, or standardised ileal digestibility of amino acids. Lopes et al (2019) [24] found that the inclusion of maize germ meal in broiler diets of up to 11.8% optimized body weight gain without affecting feed intake, feed conversion ratio, metabolizable energy, carcass yields, cuts, or offal and meat quality. Maize gluten meal is produced during the wet milling of maize after the removal of starch, germ, and fibre.…”

“…In another study, improved performance, egg composition, and shell quality of layers were observed when fed diets containing 25% rice bran with 250 FTU/kg phytase additive (Habibollahi et al, 2019) [19] . In that study, the deleterious effects of phytates associated with higher rice bran inclusion levels were reversed by the phytase enzyme additive Sources NRC (1994) [27] Batal et al (2006) [8] NRC (1994) [27] Lopes et al (2019) [24] Hussain et al…”

“…(2022) [36] ; Leeson and Summers (2005) [23] Leeson and Summers (2005) [23] Leeson and Summers (2005) [23] Zhang et al (2022) [39] ; Leeson and Summers (2005) [23] Saleh et al (2021) [31] 1 values expressed on a wet basis; #missing value; DDG = distillers dried grains; DDGS = distillers dried grains with solubles; ME = metabolizable energy (2019) [24] Maize gluten meal Roosters (68-72 weeks) 0, and 10% Inclusion of up to 10% maintained semen quality and body weight Ávila et al…”

Development and Utilization of Corn Processing by-Products: A Review

“…When corn germ dosage was 76.7 g/kg dry matter, the distribution of polyunsaturated fatty acids in lamb meat was the best [98]. Corn germ can be used at low levels in the diet of broilers without compromising their productive rates [99]. Moreover, the main processed products of corn germ by-products are as follows.…”