Interaction of wheat micronization and cultivar on its feeding value for broilers

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the interaction between micronization and cultivar of wheat on grain chemical composition and feeding value for chickens. Micronized whole grain feeding was evaluated in one experiment using inclusion levels of 10 and 50% for starter and grower diets, respectively. Dietary enzyme was used in two other experiments to study its interaction with micronization and genotype of wheat. Wheat cultivars Genesis, Kyle, and Katepwa were micronized at 100°C for 50 s and incorporated into broiler diets. Micronization improved overall feed efficiency, but did not always increase body weight. When feeding whole grain to birds, micronization improved feed efficiency from 21 to 42 d and 0 to 42 d, but did not affect final body weight. Micronization of wheat cultivars reduced early growth rate of all birds, regardless of wheat form in the diets. Micronization did not impact AME and digesta viscosity. Cultivar Kyle had a higher dietary AME and a lower digesta viscosity, and resulted in feed efficiency and weight gain values superior to those of either Genesis or Katepwa (exps. 2 and 3). Enzyme increased weight gain, feed efficiency and dietary AME, and decreased digesta viscosity.