1366
Effects of different feed processing procedures with expander on broiler performance
For particle agglomeration after grinding, pelleting is successfully used, but it does not increase considerably starch gelatinization, which would be maximized after hydrothermic treatment (HT). Among feed processing methods with HT, expanding may achieve the most efficient feed conversion rate (FCR). The objective was to compare different feed processing methods of broiler ration on animal performance. Ration was mixed with the same ingredients, differing in composition between phase I and II only. Rations were processed to obtain mash (negative control), pelleted only (positive control), or four expander processes (crumble I (2.7 kWh/t) and II (12 kWh/t), shaped crumble (30 kWh/t), and pelleting after expander processing (exp.+pel., 15 kWh/t)). Broilers were kept in boxes of 10 animals each and were fed in two phases (age 1 to 21 (phase I), and 22 to 36 days (phase II)). Body weight gain and feed intake were measured. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design (r=8); means separated by Tukey (p<0.05). Among feed processing methods, feed intake was highest for pellets, crumbles I and II. Expanding could preserve coarse structure inside the expandat, in contrast to the pelleted ration. The most efficient FCR among expander treatments was achieved with the shaped crumble, next to pelleted feeds. Whereas crumble I (low energy input as kWh/t) contributed to particle agglomeration, this expander treatment was not able to increase substantially starch gelatinization or avoid selective feed intake. The shaped crumble had higher energy input (as kWh/t) than crumble II, which may explain the comparable FCR to pelleted rations. The reduced bulk density however may explain the lower feed intake for the shaped crumble treatment. The FCR of broilers fed on shaped crumbles compared to the pelleted treatments is attributed to the coarse particles inside the expandate after processing and the HT on improved starch gelatinization.
Treatment |
Feed intake, g/day |
Body weight gain, g/day |
FCR |
||
Phase I |
Phase II |
Phase I |
Phase II |
0-36 days |
|
mash |
55.8 a |
169.6 c |
40.2 bc |
94.5 b |
1.62 b |
pelleted |
57.8 a |
181.2 ab |
47.1 a |
94.6 b |
1.55 a |
crumble I |
60.7 a |
185.0 a |
47.2 a |
99.2 a |
1.65 c |
crumble II |
60.6 a |
180.4 ab |
42.7 b |
103.0 a |
1.60 b |
shaped |
55.1 a |
166.6 c |
39.0 c |
93.9 b |
1.53 a |
exp.+pel. |
54.7 a |
175.6 bc |
41.7 bc |
97.9 ab |
1.52 a |
SE |
0.38 |
0.55 |
0.30 |
0.41 |
0.01 |
Keywords: broiler, feed processing, feed conversion