Determining the average particle size consumed (APSC) between two genetic strains (GS) receiving starter diets varying in feed form (FF) and feed quality (FQ)

Abstract

SUMMARY: A previous companion study utilized a 2 GS (Fast Growing [FG] or High Yielding [HY]) × 2 FF (Crumbles [C] or Intact Pellets [IP]) × 3 FQ (Low, Medium, or High) factorial arrangement to determine their impact on broiler performance. The 2 FF, C or P, were fed in the starter diet (d 0–18) as one of 3 FQ: low-2,210 µm (C) or 40% intact pellets (IP), medium-3,010 µm (C) or 60% IP, and high-3388 µm (C) or 80% IP. From 0 to 18 d, feeding increased FQ improved overall BW and BWG. The current study determined the APSC from d 0 to 6 and d 0 to 18 among these GS, FF, and FQ. This study utilized a subsample of pens from the companion study. From d 0 to 6 and 0 to 18, HY GS had a higher APSC. At d 0 to 18, GS × FF interacted, demonstrating that APSC only differed between GS when pellets were fed, with HY consuming a larger size. A FF × FQ interaction on 0–6 and 0–18 d demonstrated that, regardless of FF broilers fed high FQ, had larger APSC. For birds fed low and medium FQ as a C, APSC was larger, but smaller when fed as IP. Correlations were found showing that as APSC increased, d 0 to 6 BW, BW gain, and FCR improved; this also occured for d 0 to 18 FCR. Data suggest that APSC is dependent upon GS and FF presented; further research is needed to verify APS preference when provided ad libitum amounts of each particle size.

Keywords

• pellet
• crumble
• particle size
• starter
• feed form
• broiler performance