Effects of feeding varying proportions of pellets and fines on growth performance and carcass yield of broilers during a 63-day production period

Abstract

SUMMARY: Pelleting is a common feed milling practice in the broiler industry due to its positive effects on broiler performance and feed handling characteristics. Milling conditions, ingredients, and transportation can all affect the formation and durability of pellets, and ultimate feed form composition. Anecdotal field experience has stated that broiler production costs may be impacted when dietary pellet concentrations are above 70% or below 30%. Limited research has determined if differences in pellet concentrations within that range can affect performance and yield of large broilers (>3.0 kg). This study evaluated the effects of feeding various proportions of pellets and fines on performance and carcass yield of broilers during a 63-d production period. Seven dietary treatments with varying proportions of pellets and fines were fed from 16 to 63 d of age: 1) 100:0, 2) 75:25, 3) 56:44, 4) 42:58, 5) 31:69, 6) 0:100%, and 7) 0:100% mill fines (feed particles that passed through a 2,000 µm sieve). Cumulatively, no differences in BW, carcass yield, and abdominal fat yield were observed between those fed treatments 1 to 6, but broilers fed treatment 7 had a lower BW, and carcass yield than those fed treatments 2, 4, and 5. Birds fed treatment 7 had the highest FCR and abdominal fat yield, and lowest total breast meat yield of all treatments. Broilers fed treatments 5 and 6 had a lower FCR than those fed treatment 1. Increasing the dietary proportion of pellets to fines did not incrementally improve the performance and yield of large broilers.

Keywords

• broiler
• feed form
• pellet
• fine
• mill fine