Nutritional and energy value of wheat cultivars for broiler chickens

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain of 6 spring and 3 winter cultivars was analysed for nutrients content including amino acids, fatty acids, starch, sugars and fibre, and dietary fibr? fractions. Digestibility of main nutrients and amino acids, and apparent metabolizable energy (AMEN) were determined in broiler chicken. The experiment was carried out on 45 unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens (9 groups of 5 birds) aged 42 days, maintained in individual balance cages. During 7 days birds were given wheat grain as the only feed and in the last 3 days feed intake was measured and excreta was collected and analysed. Protein content ranged from 123 to 155 g/kg DM, starch content from 614 to 748 g/kg DM, ADL fraction from 0.1 to 4.4 g/kg DM. Mean digestibility of all nutrients and AMEN values were lower while nitrogen retention was higher in spring than in winter varieties (mean AME N values 12.6 vs 13.1 M J/kg, respectively). Among wheat cultivars significant differences of nutrients digestibility and AMEN values were found. It is concluded that AMEN value of wheat was not related to protein or starch contents while it was negatively affected by ADL content.