Utilization of High Oil Corn in Broiler Diets Varying in Energy Content

Abstract

A feeding trial tested the performance of broiler chickens fed diets with high oil corn (HOC) or yellow dent corn (YDC). Five starter/grower treatments using HOC and YDC were compared in isocaloric diets. Eight replicate pens of 60 male chicks received each treatment.At comparable dietary energy levels, there were no significant differences in body weight, feed conversion, calorie conversion, dressing percentage, breast meat yield, or wing yield between birds fed HOC and YDC. Abdominal fat content was significantly decreased in diets containing HOC, probably due to the higher crude protein content of diets containing HOC. Increasing dietary energy level, regardless of the source of corn, significantly improved body weight and feed conversion without adversely affecting carcass components or parts yield. The opportunity to increase dietary energy level without increasing the amount of supplemental fat offers a potential benefit for HOC. Nutritionists and others should consider this evidence in any economic evaluation of high oil cultivars of corn.