Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of moderate dilution (gradually up to 22.5%) of standard diets (C) with wheat in different physical forms, ground and pelleted (GW) or whole (WW), on growth rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass yield, and incidence of footpad dermatitis (FPD) in growing heavy-type turkeys. Dietary treatments in which part of the basal diet (control, C) was replaced with a low, medium, or high wheat content (8.2%, 13.3%, or 18.2% on average in groups W L , W M , and W H , respectively) were compared. Seven experimental groups consisted of six replicates each (n=30 birds) fed from 4 to 18 weeks of age. After four weeks of experimental feeding, groups GW L and WW L , relative to group C, were characterized by higher coefficients of dry matter digestibility (P=0.003), apparent nitrogen retention (P=0.096), and energy metabolizability (P=0.003), as well as by a higher metabolizable energy content of the daily ration (P<0.001). The beneficial influence of wheat, both ground and whole, was lower at higher levels of dietary dilution. In 8-week-old turkeys, the symptoms of FPD were significantly less severe in groups GW L and WW L (P=0.039). In birds aged 18 weeks, no significant differences were found among groups. Neither the amount of wheat nor its physical form had a significant effect on the average body weight of growing turkeys. Throughout the experiment, only in groups WW M and WW H were FCR values lower than in group C (P<0.001). An increase in the wheat content of diets led to a linear decrease in FCR (P<0.001), and average FCR values were significantly (P=0.004) lower in WW than in GW groups. Whole wheat, compared with ground pelleted wheat, contributed to an increase in gizzard weight (P=0.003), although it had no influence on the proportions of breast muscles, leg muscles, and fat in turkey carcasses.
Highlights
Recent years have witnessed the growing popularity of feeding whole grain to poultry
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of moderate dilution of standard diets with wheat in different physical forms on growth rate, feed conversion ratio, carcass yield and incidence of footpad dermatitis in growing heavy-type turkeys
Medium, and high wheat inclusion, the average protein concentration decreased by 3.4%, 5.8%, and 8%, respectively, in comparison with the control diet
Summary
Recent years have witnessed the growing popularity of feeding whole grain to poultry This tendency results from economic reasons, the beneficial influence of whole grain on the development and health of the digestive tract of birds, and greater consumer acceptance of a more ‘natural’ feeding system (Gabriel et al, 2008). Studies have shown that this mode of feeding improves the growth performance of birds and feed efficiency (Ravindran et al, 2006), most probably due to better development of the gastrointestinal tract of broilers and an increase in relative gizzard weight (Amerah et al, 2007). A number of studies, extensively reviewed by Svihus (2011), have shown improvements in nutrient utilization and bird performance as a result of including whole grains or coarse feed and fibre particles in diets for broiler chickens
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
