Performance of Broiler Chickens on Commercial Diets Mixed with Whole or Ground Wheat of Different Varieties

Abstract

To study the effects of mixing commercial diets with whole wheat on 
          bird performance with respect to growing ages, each of four whole or 
          ground wheat varieties was mixed with commercial diets at the presence 
          or absence of enzyme at the following rates: 10% from 7 to 14 d of age, 
          20% from 14 to 21 d of age, 30% from 21 to 28 d of age, and 50% from 
          28 to 35 d of age. A control group of broiler chickens was fed only 
          with commercial diets throughout. Birds performed well with the diets 
          mixed with 10 and 20% wheat whether ground or whole. Feed intake of 
          birds significantly (P<0.05) depressed only by the diets mixed with 
          50% of both whole and ground wheat. Weight gain and feed conversion 
          ratio significantly (P<0.05) reduced with the diets mixed with 30 and 
          50% whole and ground wheat. There were no significant effects of wheat 
          variety, wheat form and enzyme addition on the bird performance. Enzyme 
          did not improve the performance of birds fed with the diets containing 
          whole or ground wheat although there was a significant reduction in 
          the digesta viscosity. Gut length was significantly longer in the birds 
          fed on all the diets mixed with ground or whole wheat than the birds 
          of control diets. It is concluded that birds can control feed intake 
          unless they are not fed with the 50% wheat mixed diet until 28 d of 
          age and grow optimally unless they are not fed with the 30% wheat mixed 
          diet from 21 to 28 d of age. Furthermore, it is suggested that the fortification 
          with some essential nutrients is necessary at early growing ages when 
          mixing the diets with whole/ground wheat at high rates of <30%.