Sorghum-based Diets Research Articles

Growth performance, nutrients digestibility, intestinal microbiota and histology altered in broilers fed maize- or sorghum-based diets

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of varying levels of sorghum-based diets as an alternative to maize in broiler nutrition. A total of 320 one-day-old male Ross 708 broiler chickens were randomly allocated to four treatment groups (5 pens per treatment and 16 birds per pen), comprising a control group with a basal diet and groups receiving sorghum-based diets with 20%, 40%, and 100% maize replacement. The overall weight gain was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher in the control group, followed by 20%, 40%, and 100% sorghum replacement. Additionally, overall feed intake was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the 20% sorghum replacement group compared to the control and other groups. Broilers fed sorghum-based diets exhibited a significantly (p < 0.01) increased feed conversion ratio. Carcass characteristics showed no significant differences between broilers fed corn and sorghum; however, the digestibility of crude protein and apparent metabolizable energy significantly (p < 0.01) increased in the 20% sorghum-corn replacement compared to the 40% and 100% replacement levels. Ileal villus height and width did not differ among the corn-sorghum-based diets, regardless of the replacement percentage. Furthermore, among the cecal microbiota, Lactobacillus count was significantly (p < 0.041) higher in the 20% corn-sorghum diet compared to the 40% and 100% replacement levels. These findings suggest that replacing corn up to 20% of corn with sorghum in broiler diet positively impact growth performance, gut health, nutrient digestibility, and cecal microbiota in broilers. However, larger replacements (40% and 100%) may have negative implications for broiler production and health.

PSII-14 Economic impact of adding exogenous enzymes in a sorghum-based diet for growing and finishing pigs

Abstract Food efficiency in production aims for better productive results in body weight gain and reduction of dietary costs. Sorghum is a great cereal to use in pig feed, but it has a greater concentration of phytate than corn, which is not degraded by monogastric animals. The addition of exogenous enzymes aims to increase nutrient digestibility, providing greater efficiency of use. The study aim was to evaluate the performance of the animals and the economic viability of the joint use of protease and phytase in sorghum-based diets of sorghum for finishing pigs. The experiment was carried out on a commercial farm, in Patos de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Commercial hybrid pigs (n = 240; 70 d old; body weight = 26 kg) were used. Individually identified and distributed in pens respecting body weight and sex blocks in a randomized block design, two treatments with 12 replications each were evaluated, totaling 24 experimental plots, with 10 animals each. In treatment 1, control diet based on sorghum and soybean meal (SBM) with phytase 600 FYT/kg of feed (HiPhorius); and treatment 2, same composition as treatment 1 with addition of 30,000 NFP/kg of feed of protease (ProAct 360). The diets were formulated according to Brazilian tables and use nutritional matrix of enzymes (phytase and protease), excepted in control group. At 0, 48, 70 and 89 d of the experiment, the animals were weighed individually, and all the food provided was weighed and the leftovers were quantified, providing information for calculating the variables: average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The feeding program costs were calculated. The results were submitted to the variance test, using the statistical program SAS, version 9.4. The difference between mean values was considered statistically significant when P &amp;lt; 0.050, using the Turkey test. There was no statistical difference (P &amp;gt; 0.05) between treatments in relation to ADFI between 0 to 49 d (P = 0.110), 0 to70 d (P = 0.431) and 0 to 89 d of experiment (P = 0.490). There was also no impact on ADG at 0 to 49 d (P = 0.325), 0 to 70 d (P = 0.834) and 0 to 89 experimental days (P = 0.915); and FCR at 0 to 49 days (P = 0.304), 0 to 70 d (P = 0.470) and 0 to 89 experimental days (P = 0.177). Although, there was no effect on the performance indices evaluated in this study, the use of exogenous enzymes such as proteases can have an economic impact on the composition of the pig diet, as it reduced the nutritional cost, increased the revenue per pig produced, increased the margin on feed in 1.06% and reducing the cost per kilogram produced by 1.18%. Therefore, the association of protease and phytase showed a significant economic impact when used in diets based on sorghum and SBM for growing and finishing pigs, even with no direct impact on performance indices.

Transgenic, high-protein sorghums display promise in poultry diets in an initial comparison

This study aimed to compare the inclusion of transgenic sorghums against commercially available sorghums on growth performance in broiler chickens. Isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were offered to a total 288 male Ross 308 broiler chickens from 14 to 35 d posthatch. Three dietary treatments were diets based on transgenic sorghums with a mean protein content of 154.7 g/kg and 5 treatments were based on commercially available sorghum hybrids with a mean protein content of 90.6 g/kg. Soybean meal inclusions in the commercial sorghum diets averaged 215 g/kg, which was reduced to 171 g/kg in the transgenic sorghum diets because of the higher protein contents. Overall growth performance was highly satisfactory, and commercial sorghums supported 2.55% (2,330 vs. 2,272 g/bird; P = 0.010) more weight gains and 2.74% (2,929 vs. 2,851 g/bird; P = 0.012) higher feed intakes; however, the transgenic sorghums supported a fractionally better FCR (1.255 vs 1.257; P = 0.826). There were no statistical differences in apparent jejunal and ileal starch and protein (N) digestibility coefficients between treatments. The transgenic sorghum diets generated slightly, but significantly, higher AME:GE ratios and AMEn, but the commercial sorghum diets generated 6.33% (235 vs. 221 g/kg; P < 0.001) greater breast meat yields. Apparent ileal digestibility coefficients of 16 amino acids averaged 0.839 and 0.832 for transgenic and commercial sorghum-based diets, respectively, without any significant differences in individual amino acids. This outcome suggests amino acid digestibilities of the transgenic sorghums may be inherently higher than commercial hybrid sorghums as the 25.7% higher average soybean meal inclusions would have advantaged amino acid digestibilities in commercial sorghum diets. The possibility that the digestibilities of amino acids in the kafirin component of transgenic sorghums was enhanced by modifications to the structure of kafirin protein bodies is discussed. In conclusion, transgenic sorghums with higher protein concentrations led to 20.5% reduction of soybean meal inclusions in broiler diets, and this change did not compromise feed conversion efficiency compared to standard commercial hybrid sorghums.

Malted sorghum as a maize substitute in broiler diets: effect on feed utilisation, growth performance and haemo-biochemical parameters

Sorghum is amongst the most drought-tolerant cereals in the driest rain-fed regions of the tropics and its utilisation in sustainable poultry production is limited by presence of phytochemicals. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of malting dietary sorghum on growth performance and haemo-biochemical parameters of Ross 308 broiler chickens. A total of 150 unsexed, 2 weeks-old chicks were evenly distributed into 15 replicated pens which were randomly allocated into three experimental diets and fed in two phase feeding. Three diets were formulated by completely replacing maize grain in commercial grower and finisher diets (CON) with red malted sorghum (RSD) and white malted sorghum (WSD). Broilers fed CON and WSD diets gained more weight compared to those fed RSD in week 3 and 5. The lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed in CON in week 4 and 6. The protein efficiency ratio was the lowest with broilers fed malted sorghum-based diets (MSD) through out the study. Protein intake was the highest in broilers fed WSD in week 3 and 5, but lowest in week 4 and 5 in broilers fed RSD. Diets affected white blood cells basophils, corpuscular (volume and haemoglobin), corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, creatinine, bilirubin, and enzymes (GTP and GOT). Overall, the results from the present study suggest that maize grains can be replaced with malted white sorghum grains in poultry diets, without any adverse effects on the birds’ growth performance and general health status.

Nutrient composition of Sorghum-Based Rations and their effect on growth of Improved Indigenous Chicken in Western Kenya

Improved indigenous chicken contributes to the nutrition of farmers in rural communities. The use of maize as an energy source in chicken diets is becoming unacceptable due to competition from humans, resulting in high feed costs. Alternative energy sources like low-tannin sorghum can be grown in Western Kenya. The objective of the study was to determine the nutrient composition of sorghum-based diets and the growth of improved indigenous chicken in Busia and Siaya Counties. Dietary treatments consisted of 50% (T1), 75% (T2) sorghum inclusion, and control (commercial diet) (T3). Farmers on semi-intensive were provided dietary treatments, and free-range (T4) was not provided. Feed samples were subjected to laboratory analysis for proximate composition, amino acids, and tannin content. Growth characteristics were collected biweekly. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and then means that differed significantly were separated using Tukey’s test in Genstat 14th edition. For proximate composition, dry matter was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in T2 (91.9%) and T3 (92.1%) compared to T1 (91.4%). Crude fat was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in T2 (9.54%) than in T1 (6.84%) and T3 (6.57%). The crude fibre was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in T3 (14.3%) compared to T1 (3.37%) and T2 (3.62%). Crude protein was significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in T2 (15.8%) and T1 (15.2%) compared to T3 (12.6%). Metabolisable energy was significantly (p&lt;0.05) lower in T3 (2723 Kcal/Kg) compared to T1 (3569 Kcal/Kg) and T2 (3684 Kcal/Kg). Amino acids (lysine, methionine, cysteine, and tryptophan) content in diets T2 and T3 were significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher than T1. The tannin content of the sorghum variety C26 was 1.24%. T1 had a significantly high (p&lt;0.05) mean final weight (970 g), body weight gain (804 g), daily weight gain (14.4 g), and feed conversion ratio (5.57). Mortality was highest at T4 (17.1%). It was concluded that the inclusion of 50% low tannin sorghum meets chicken feed nutritional requirements and is best for growth performance. The study recommended that farmers rearing chicken should plant low tannin sorghum to be utilized as feed ingredient to cut the cost of production

Chicory root powder included as a prebiotic in different cereal-based diets for dogs: Influences on gut health, metabolic and immunological status

The present experiment was conducted to study the influence of chicory root powder as a prebiotic on gut health, metabolic, and immunological status of dogs fed with different cereal-based diets. Sixteen Labrador dogs, fed either a wheat (WT) or sorghum (SG) based diet, each without (C) or with (P) supplemental chicory root powder at 10 g/kg diet, were divided into four equal groups namely WT-C, WT-P, SG-C and SG-P. The digestibility of DM, OM, and total carbohydrates was significantly (p < 0.05) higher with the SG-C diet than with the other diets. Faecal ammonia was reduced (p = 0.002) in the WT-P group; however, there were no differences (p > 0.05) observed in the faecal pH and contents of lactate, acetate, propionate and total short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The faecal lactobacilli population was higher (p = 0.001) in both the prebiotic-supplemented groups with a similar trend (p = 0.079) for bifidobacteria. Coliform counts were reduced (p = 0.002) in prebiotic-supplemented diets irrespective of cereals. There were significant (p < 0.05) variations in haemoglobin and haematocrit values among the dietary groups. The delayed-type hypersensitivity response to intradermal phytohemagglutinin (PHA-P) was higher (p<0.001) in both the prebiotic-supplemented groups; a similar trend was evident in the humoral immune response measured as antibody response to sheep erythrocytes. The peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations of CD4+ and CD8+ varied with prebiotic supplementation of the sorghum-based diet. Overall, the findings implies that tailoring the dietary composition to include specific cereals may optimize the beneficial effects of prebiotics in supporting canine health.

Inclusion of Sorghum in Ruminant Diets Towards Methane Emission Mitigation and Improved Meat Quality: A Review

Sorghum is among the less widely used crops yet it is ranked the fifth most important cereal crop after wheat, maize, rice and barley. The grain’s nutritional value is similar to that of maize and wheat and the phenolic profile is more abundant and varied than other common cereal grains. Sorghum has been largely included in ruminant diets as an energy source and research findings show insignificant differences in the performance parameters in livestock fed sorghum-based diets, with some studies suggesting sorghum as a more efficient alternative to maize. The narrative review focuses on opportunities for reducing rumen methanogenesis through dietary inclusion of sorghum as well as discussing the impact on relative abundance of microbiota and meat quality. The grain possesses qualities that can potentially influence the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in ruminant livestock production, relative abundance of rumen microbes and meat quality. However, there is very little information on the influence of sorghum grain-based diets on the rumen bacterial community composition and their relationship with ruminal metabolites. Further investigations are required to add more knowledge on the effect of sorghum grain-based diets on meat quality.

Dietary supplementation of proteases on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics and gut microbiota of growing pigs fed sorghum-based diets

Low-tannin sorghum is an excellent energy source in pig diets. However, sorghum contains several anti-nutritional factors that may have negative effects on nutrient digestibility. The impacts of proteases on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and gut microbiota of growing pigs fed sorghum-based diets were studied in this study. Ninety-six pigs (20.66 ± 0.65 kg BW) were allocated into three groups (eight pens/group, four pigs/pen): (1) CON (control diet, sorghum-based diet included 66.98% sorghum), (2) PRO1 (CON + 200 mg/kg proteases), (3) PRO2 (CON + 400 mg/kg proteases) for 28 d. No differences were observed in growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients between CON and PRO1 groups. Pigs fed PRO2 diet had increased (P < 0.05) BW on d 21 and 28, and increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain during d 14–21 and the overall period compared with pigs fed CON diet. In addition, pigs fed PRO2 diet had improved (P < 0.05) ATTD of gross energy, CP, and DM compared with pigs fed CON and PRO1 diets. Pigs fed PRO2 diet had lower (P < 0.05) plasma globulin (GLB) level and higher (P < 0.05) plasma glucose, albumin (ALB) and immunoglobulin G levels, and ALB/GLB ratio than pigs fed CON and PRO1 diets. Furthermore, pigs fed PRO2 diet had decreased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Acidobacteriota at the phylum level and increased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Prevotella_9 at the genus level. The linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis also showed that pigs fed PRO2 diet had significantly enriched short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, such as Subdoligranulum and Parabacteroides. In conclusion, protease supplementation at 400 mg/kg improved the growth performance of growing pigs fed sorghum-based diets, which may be attributed to the improvement of nutrient digestibility, host metabolism, immune status and associated with the altered gut microbiota profiles.

Effects of sorghum-based diets with phytase superdosing on broiler performance

Effects of sorghum-based diets with phytase superdosing on broiler performance

Performance and Internal Organ Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Fed Red Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench)) Based Diets Supplemented with Complex Enzyme (Kingzyme®)

The study was designed to study the effect of complex enzyme (Kingzyme®) on performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens fed red sorghum-based diets. Two hundred (200) chicks (day-old) of mixed sex was randomly allotted to five dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5) supplemented with enzyme complex (Kingzyme®) at the levels of 0.0g, 0.2g, 0.5g, 0.8g and 1.1g kg per Kg of feed respectively in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated four (4) times to contain ten (10) birds each. Feed and water were provided ad libitum accompanied with standard management procedures for eight weeks. At end of the experiments, eight (8) birds whose body weights are closest to the mean of the group was randomly selected from each treatment (two (2) per replicate) and was fasted overnight to reduce the gut contents and carcass contamination. The birds for each replicate was weighed to determine the live body weight, followed by slaughtering, bleeding, bled weight determination, scalding and wet plucking. The plucked weight was determined followed by evisceration, dressed weight and weighing of internal organs. The weight of the internal organs and length of small, large intestines and caecum was determined. The weights of the internal organ were expressed as the percentage of the dressed weight. Data were analyzed using Statitix Analytical Software, Version 10; and the treatment means were compared using Turkey HSD. There was no significant (P &lt; 0.05) difference across the treatment groups for feed intake and growth performance at both starter and finisher phases respectively. Similarly, carcass characteristics showed no significant (P &lt; 0.05) difference across the dietary treatments. Lungs, gizzard and proventriculus was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) affected across the dietary treatments. Based on the result of the study, it was concluded that Red Sorghum-based diet supplemented with enzyme complex (Kingzyme®) do not have any significant effect on feed intake and growth performance of broiler chickens but can change some internal organs weights especially the lungs, gizzards and proventriculus.

The influence of dietary crude protein concentrations, grain types and arginine:lysine ratios on the performance of broiler chickens.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) concentrations, grain types and arginine:lysine ratios on performance parameters of broiler chickens. The 2×2×2 factorial array of dietary treatments harnessed two CP concentrations (210 and 170g/kg), two feed grains (wheat and sorghum), and two arginine:lysine ratios (104 and 110). Each dietary treatment was offered to 7 replicates of 14 birds per floor pen, a total of 784 off-sex male, Ross 308 broilers, from 14 to 35d post-hatch. The dietary CP reduction compromised weight gain by 10.0% (2078 versus 2310g/bird) as a main effect and FCR by 7.51% (1.474 versus 1.371), subject to an interaction. In a three-way interaction (P=0.008), expanded arginine:lysine ratios improved FCR by 2.30% in 170g/kg CP, sorghum-based diets but compromised FCR by 2.12% in corresponding wheat-based diets. Sorghum was the more suitable feed grain in reduced-CP diets as sorghum generated significant advantages in weight gain of 7.59% (2154 versus 2002g/kg) and FCR of 6.94% (1.421 versus 1.527) in birds offered 170g/kg CP diets. Both dietary CP and feed grain generated significant and divergent impacts in apparent ileal digestibility coefficients for the majority of 16 assessed amino acids. Dietary CP reductions increased non-bound amino acid inclusions (NBAA) in wheat-based diets (48.96 versus 9.80g/kg) to a greater extent than sorghum-based diets (35.3 versus 9.50g/kg) and increasing dietary NBAA inclusions were linearly associated with compromised weight gain (r=-0.834; P<0.001) and FCR (r=0.862; P<0.001). Increasing ratios of free arginine to lysine plasma concentrations were linearly (r=-0.466; P=0.004) related to improvements in FCR. The implications of the observed outcomes are discussed and possible explanations are advanced.

Hematology and Serum biochemistry of Broiler Chickens Fed Red Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Based Diets supplemented with Complex Enzyme (Kingzyme®) in Girei, Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study was designed to study the Hematology and Serum biochemistry of Broiler Chickens Fed Red Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Based Diets supplemented with Complex Enzyme (Kingzyme®). Two hundred (200) chicks (day-old) of mixed sex was randomly allotted to five dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5) supplemented with enzyme complex (Kingzyme®) at the levels of 0.0g, 0.2g, 0.5g, 0.8g and 1.1g kg per Kg of feed respectively in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated four (4) times to contain ten (10) birds each. Feed and water were provided ad libitum accompanied with standard management procedures for eight weeks. At end of the eight weeks’ experimental period, blood samples were collected for hematological and serum chemistry analysis. Data were analyzed using Statitix Analytical Software, Version 10; and the treatment means were compared using Turkey HSD.Except the RBC, MCV, MCH and Eosinophil which showed significant (P &lt; 0.05) difference across the treatment groups, all other hematological parameters were not significantly (P &gt; 0.05) affected. The TP, Alb and Glb were also not significantly (P &gt; 0.05) affected. The Urea and Glucose were not significantly (P &gt; 0.05) affected. The Creatinine and Cholesterol were significantly (P &gt; 0.05) affected across the dietary treatment. Based on the result of the study, it was concluded that Red Sorghum-based diet supplemented with enzyme complex (Kingzyme®) do not have any significant effect on hematological and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens.

Performance and energy metabolisability of broiler finisher chickens fed red and white sorghum-based diets supplemented with methionine

Performance and energy metabolisability of broiler finisher chickens fed red and white sorghum-based diets supplemented with methionine

Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler chickens diets on performance, blood chemistry, and meat quality

The influence of feeding a new hybrid of sorghum (ES Shamal, orange variety) in broiler chickens on growth, health, meat, and litter quality was evaluated from 1–42 d. A total of 360-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks (40.1 ± 2.3 g) were randomly assigned to 3 experimental diets: 100% corn-based diet (S0), partial replacement of corn with 50% sorghum (S50), total replacement of corn with sorghum (S100). All diets were calculated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric with similar content of total lysine, total sulphur amino acids, calcium, and available phosphorous. The results indicated that partial or total replacement of corn by sorghum is suitable for broiler chicken diets with no adverse effects on growth, and slaughter performance, as well as litter quality over the whole trial period. Moreover, the substitution of corn with sorghum, reduced (p = .007) abdominal fat associated with an increase in breast and thigh meat colour (L* values; p < .001). Also, a significant (p = .002) decrease in plasma triglyceride was found in broilers fed sorghum-based diets. Except for collagen and hardness in the breast and thigh, and gumminess only in the thigh muscle, there were no differences in fundamental physicochemical (pH, protein, fat, moisture) or textural attributes of meat due to dietary treatment. However, sorghum alters the intestinal microflora, resulting in a lower count of E. coli in the caeca. It can thus, be concluded that sorghum (ES Shamal, orange variety) can be included in broiler feeds from hatching to day 42, without any adverse effects on the broiler’s performance. HIGHLIGHTS Climate changes become a threat to the livestock sector and finding novel nutritional solutions for feeding farm animals became a priority. New sorghum varieties are valuable in terms of drought-resistant plants. Replacement of corn with sorghum in broiler diets maintains growth performances and carcase characteristics.

A Preliminary Assessment of the Reproductive Performance of Nilotic Bucks under Intensive Management in the Semi-arid Climate of Khartoum

Three Nilotic bucks were fed sorghum-based diet and threemolasses-based diets to examine the effect of nutrition and seasons inKhartoum (Sudan) on the scrotal circumference, sexual behaviour andsemen quality. Reaction time was recorded in seconds from introductionto a goat in oestrus until ejaculation into an Artificial Vagina (AV). Thescrotal circumference was measured around the width of the two testiclesonce every month. Semen was collected by an AV at weekly intervals.Semen characteristics examined were volume of the ejaculate,spermatozoa motility and concentration. Although the Nilotic bucks didnot have a period of sexual quiescence, they had an active mating seasonstarting at the beginning of autumn as indicated by the improved semenquality and reaction time (22.8 and 17.0 sec in autumn and winter ascompared to 72.3 sec in summer). Testicular circumference reached itsmaximal size at the beginning of autumn (20.17 cm), remained at thislevel until mid-winter, and then declined thereafter and reached itsminimal value during the next summer (17.08 cm). The season affectedall semen characteristics examined and the best semen was obtained inautumn and winter. However, the magnitudes of these seasonal effectsmay not be sufficient to prevent the bucks from being used for breeding

Effects of a mixture of xylanase and glucanase on digestibility of energy and dietary fiber in corn- or sorghum based diets fed to growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that an enzyme premix containing xylanase and glucanase improves the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy and total dietary fiber (TDF) and the concentration of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in diets fed to growing pigs. A corn-soybean meal diet and a sorghum-soybean meal diet were formulated, and 4 additional diets were formulated by adding 400 g/kg distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) or 400 g/kg wheat middlings to the corn-based diet and the sorghum-based diet. Six additional diets were prepared by adding an enzyme premix including xylanase and β-glucanase to each of these diets. One hundred and forty-four growing pigs (61.7 ± 5.3 kg) were allotted to a randomized complete block design with 12 diets and 12 replicate pigs per diet. Pigs were adapted to the diets for 12 days before being moved to metabolism crates. Individual pig weights and feed consumption were recorded, and average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) were calculated for each dietary treatment. After 4 days of adaptation to the metabolism crates, urine and fecal materials were collected during the following 4 days according to the marker to marker approach. Results indicated that the ATTD of GE, and DE and ME increased (P < 0.01) if enzymes were added to the diets regardless of grain source or co-product inclusion, but no effect of enzymes on ATTD of TDF was observed. However, ATTD of TDF was greater in the corn based diet containing DDGS compared with the diet containing wheat middlings, but in the sorghum-based diet, no difference in ATTD of TDF was observed (grain source × co-product interaction, P < 0.05). However, growth performance were not affected by inclusion of enzymes, but inclusion of co-products to the diets decreased (P < 0.05) the ADG and G:F in pigs. In conclusion, mixture of enzyme including xylanase and β-glucanase used in this experiment has the potential to increase the ATTD of GE, and DE and ME, in both corn-based and sorghum-based diets without or with fiber containing co-products.

Elevated branched-chain amino acid inclusions generate distinctly divergent growth performance responses in broiler chickens offered wheat- and/or sorghum-based, reduced-crude protein diets

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of elevated branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) inclusions in 187.5 g/kg crude protein (CP) diets based on wheat, sorghum or a wheat-sorghum blend on performance parameters of broiler chickens from 7 to 28 days post-hatch. The first tier of BCAA inclusions relative to lysine were leucine 105, isoleucine 65 and valine 75. The second tier was an elevation of leucine to 150 individually and in the third tier leucine was maintained at 150 and isoleucine and valine were elevated to 75 and 85, respectively. A 3 × 3 factorial array of these dietary treatments were offered to a total of 324 male Ross 308 broiler chickens housed in six replicate cages per treatment with six birds per cage. The assessed performance parameters included growth performance, relative abdominal fat-pad weights, nutrient utilisation, apparent jejunal and ileal digestibility coefficients of starch, protein (N) and amino acids and free amino acid concentrations in systemic plasma. Treatment interactions were observed for weight gain (P < 0.001) and FCR (P < 0.014). Elevated BCAA inclusions in sorghum-based diets significantly increased weight gain by 9.26 % (1451 versus 1328 g/bird) and numerically improved FCR by 0.86 % (1.378 versus 1.390). In contrast, elevated BCAA inclusions in wheat-based diets significantly depressed both weight gain by 9.49 % (1288 versus 1423 g/bird) and FCR by 8.33 % (1.665 versus 1.537). Wheat-based diets (5.68 g/kg) generated significantly lighter relative abdominal fat-pad weights than either sorghum-based (13.48 g/kg) or blended diets (12.95 g/kg). Sorghum-based and blended diets supported superior energy utilisation and N retention in comparison to wheat-based diets. Similarly, sorghum-based and blended diets supported higher jejunal and ileal starch digestibility coefficients than wheat-based diets, but wheat supported significantly higher jejunal protein (N) digestibility by 10.5 % (0.726 versus 0.657). Treatment interactions were observed for ileal digestibility of 4 amino acids (arg, lys, val, gly), BCAA inclusions significantly influenced 3 amino acids (ile, leu, thr) and the feed grain significantly influenced 10 amino acids (his, ile, leu, met, phe, ala, asp, glu, pro, tyr). Elevating BCAA inclusions in wheat-sorghum blended diets significantly increased free plasma concentrations of leucine and influenced concentrations of isoleucine and valine. However, BCAA inclusions significantly decreased plasma concentrations of threonine, asparagine plus aspartic acid, cysteine, glycine, proline, and serine. Consideration is given to possible reasons for the remarkable weight gain treatment interaction following elevated BCAA inclusions to sorghum- or wheat-based diets.

Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Ross 308 Broiler Chickens Fed Malted Red and White Sorghum-Based Diets

In this study, the effects of malted sorghum-based diets (MSBD) on carcass characteristics and meat quality were investigated in broiler chickens. Two-week-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly allocated to three groups (each with five replications) and were then reared on either 0 or 100% (red (Mr Buster) or white (Segaolane)) malted sorghum commercial diets. The highest (p &lt; 0.05) slaughter weights, hot carcass weights, and cold carcass weights were observed for the broilers reared on the control diets. Broilers reared on MSBD had high (p &lt; 0.05) drumstick–thigh and vertebrae weights. The broilers fed the malted red sorghum-based diet (MRSBD) had the longest (p &lt; 0.05) small intestine and highest gizzard and liver percentage. The pHi of the broilers fed MRSBD was higher (p &lt; 0.05) than the broilers on the control or malted white sorghum-based diet (MWSBD). Breast muscle crude fibre was the lowest (p ˂ 0.05) for the MRSBD and phosphorus was low (p ˂ 0.005) for MSBD broilers. The highest (p &lt; 0.05) muscle potassium and magnesium was found in the control diet broilers. The carcass characteristics, internal organs, and meat quality traits of the broilers fed MSBD compared well to those fed the control diets. It is concluded that malted sorghum grains are a potential alternative energy source to maize for broiler diets and could reduce competition for maize grains between livestock and human use.

Dietary crude protein concentrations and L-carnitine inclusions interactively influence performance parameters of grower broiler chickens offered sorghum-based diets

This study investigated the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) and L-carnitine on the performance of broiler chickens offered sorghum-based diets. In a 3 x 3 factorial array of CP concentrations (220, 190, 160 g/kg) and L-carnitine inclusions (0, 75, 150 mg/kg), dietary treatments were offered to 324 off-sex, male Ross 308 broiler chickens from 7 to 33 days post-hatch. Treatment interactions (P < 0.001) were observed for growth performance parameters with 75 and 150 mg/kg L-carnitine inclusions in 160 g/kg CP diets increasing weight gain by up to 15.9 % (1593 versus 1374 g/bird), feed intake by up to 12.4 % (2492 versus 2218 g/bird) and improved FCR by up to 3.16 % (1.564 versus 1.615). In contrast, L-carnitine inclusions in 230 and 190 g/kg CP diets had negligible impacts on growth performance. Reducing dietary CP compromised growth performance and increased relative abdominal fat-pad weights by 44.1 % (11.44 versus 7.94 g/kg) as main effects but L-carnitine did not influence fat-pad weights. The possibility that growth performance responses observed in birds offered 160 g/kg CP diets may be attributed to L-carnitine counteracting the effects of NH3 intoxication which is given consideration because it has been established that L-carnitine is protective against (NH3) toxicity. Reducing dietary CP significantly increased jejunal and ileal digestibility coefficients of the majority of amino acids; whereas, L-carnitine had negative effects. Also, L-carnitine significantly depressed free plasma concentrations of 13 amino acids but increased concentrations of lysine, methionine, valine and glutamine. The possibility that L-carnitine was competing with amino acids for intestinal uptakes is discussed.

Avaliação de hibisco (hibiscus syriacus) em rações para codornas japonesas em postura

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance, quality and shelf life of Japanese quail eggs, analyzing the inclusion of different levels of hibiscus and the use of industrial pigment. A total of 192 laying Japanese quails were utilized, which were distributed in a completely randomized design (CRD), through four treatments, one positive control treatment (from the addition of industrial pigment) and three levels of inclusion of hibiscus (0%; 0.3% and 0.6%) in the sorghum-based diet. Six replications were performed, utilizing eight individuals per experimental unit. The eggs originated from the performance experiment were identified, individually weighed, and organized in CRD, in a 4 x 5 factorial scheme, using the four treatments of the performance experiment and five storage periods (7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days). Per treatment, six replications were performed, containing two eggs. No effect was observed for the parameters of feed intake individual/day, egg weight, egg mass/individual/day, feed conversion per egg mass, laying rate/bird housed, eggs/individual/day, specific gravity, shell weight, yolk weight, albumen weight, shell percentage, yolk percentage, albumen percentage, percentage of marketable eggs and dry matter in the excreta. The yolk coloration was less intense when compared to the control treatment, in the eggs of quail fed with 0, 0.3 and 0.6% hibiscus. The antioxidant properties of hibiscus did not affect the maintenance of the quality of stored eggs. It was concluded that the inclusion of hibiscus in the diet of Japanese quails did not change the production parameters, yolk color and egg shelf life.