Effect of feeding semi-moist diets and highly digestible carbohydrate and protein sources in the prestarter phase on performance of broiler chicks

Abstract

In total, 1400 1-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were used to examine the effects of inclusion of alternative carbohydrate and protein sources in prestarter diets and the form of diet on subsequent performance, physiological development and carcass characteristics of broilers. The experimental diets were offered from 1 to 7 days of age and were as follows: control maize–soybean–fish meal diet (CON); maize–soybean meal–casein–dextrose diet (CD); maize–soybean meal–casein-maize starch diet (CS); maize–soybean meal–maize gluten–dextrose diet (GD); and maize–soybean meal–maize gluten–maize starch diet (GS). Each diet was provided in either solid or semi-moist (30% moisture) form, resulting in 10 dietary treatments in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement. During the first week, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in feed intake and weight gain was observed in the chicks receiving the CD or the CS diets compared with the chicks receiving the CON diet. Chicks receiving the CON diet also exhibited lower (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio than did those receiving the CD or the CS diets. The adverse effect of feeding the CD and CS diets on liveweight of the birds was still evident at 21 and 42 days of age (P < 0.05). Chicks on the semi-moist diets consumed less (P < 0.05) feed than those on the solid diets during the first week. Nevertheless, chicks fed the semi-moist diets had higher (P < 0.05) weight gain and exhibited lower (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio than did those fed solid diets. During the entire period, the highest weight gain and feed intake were observed in chicks receiving the CON prestarter diet in semi-moist form. During the first week, chicks receiving the CD or the CS diet exhibited the lowest (P < 0.05) small intestine weight and length. Conversely, at the age of 21 days, these chicks had higher (P < 0.05) small intestine weight than did the other chicks. It can be concluded that using a maize–soybean–fish meal-based prestarter diet in semi-moist form improves chick development and positively affects growth performance.