NUTRITIVE VALUE OF SORGHUM GRAIN FOR BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

Sorghum grain (SG) contained more crude protein (103.5 g/kg) and ash (17.0 g/kg) but less crude fiber (17.7 g/kg) and total lipid (22.6 g/kg) than corn. The SG contained 0.37% ± 0.02 tannin, had a higher apparent metabolizable energy value than corn or wheat and contained all of the amino acids considered essential for chickens at levels in general between those of corn and wheat. Two experiments were carried out to ascertain the nutritive value of SG as a partial replacement for corn and wheat in practical poultry diets using 320 male and 320 female Cobb chicks in each. Starter (finisher) diets fed from 0–21 days (22–42 days) contained the following levels of SG: 15 (19); 30 (39); 45 (58)%. The diets were isoenergic and isonitrogenous. The inclusion of up to 45% SG in the starter diet and up to 58% in the finisher diet had no significant effect on mortality, live body weight, feed conversion or percentage of grade A carcasses. Key words: Broiler chickens, sorghum grain, milo, diets