Utilisation of different cereals in broiler diets

Abstract

1. Wheat, yellow maize, pearl millet (bajra) and sorghum (white jowar) were analysed for proximate constituents, tannins and available carbohydrates. Metabolisable energy (ME) contents were determined. 2. Each cereal was included in diets of equal nitrogen and energy content at two contents to contribute 4–2 or 6–3 MJ ME/kg for feeding to broilers from 1 to 6 weeks of age. 3. Weight gains were better with the lower inclusion rates of millet, wheat and maize than with the higher. Food utilisation was better with the higher inclusion rates of millet and sorghum than with the lower. 4. In terms of weight gain millet was significantly better than wheat or sorghum at the lower inclusion rate and better than wheat at the higher inclusion rate. In terms of food conversion millet was significantly better than wheat or maize at either inclusion rate and better than sorghum at the lower inclusion rate. 5. At the lower inclusion rate the cereals ranked millet > maize > wheat > sorghum for efficiency of energy deposition and millet > wheat > maize > sorghum for efficiency of protein deposition. At the higher inclusion rate for both efficiencies of energy and protein deposition, the cereals ranked millet > sorghum > maize > wheat.