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Title: EFFECTS OF THE ADDITION OF ROLLER MILL GROUND CORN TO PELLETED FEED DURING A 56 DAY PRODUCTION PERIOD ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND PROCESSING YIELDS OF BROILER CHICKENS

Author
item DOZIER, WILLIAM - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item BEHNKE, K - KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
item TWINING, P - PAUL TWINING ASSOC.
item Branton, Scott

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2008
Publication Date: 4/15/2009
Citation: Dozier, W.A., Behnke, K., Twining, P., Branton, S.L. 2009. EFFECTS OF THE ADDITION OF ROLLER MILL GROUND CORN TO PELLETED FEED DURING A 56 DAY PRODUCTION PERIOD ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND PROCESSING YIELDS OF BROILER CHICKENS. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 18(2):310-317.

Interpretive Summary: With over 9.1 billion broiler chickens produced annually in the U.S. and approximately one-quarter of those produced to 6.6 pounds or heavier, meeting feed delivery schedules can be problematic. Adding rolled corn post-pellet is a management strategy to increase pelleting production rate while also decreasing energy usage of the grinding and pelleting processes. This study evaluated the addition of rolled corn to pelleted feed on live performance and meat yield of broiler chickens during a 56-d grow-out. Results from this study show that rolled corn can be added post-pellet without adversely affecting broiler performance and meat yield.

Technical Abstract: Poor pelleting production rates can heighten milling cost and increase the frequency of feed outages for broiler integrated operations. The number of broilers marketed to heavy weights has been increasing and meeting feed delivery schedules can be problematic with “big bird” complexes. Adding rolled corn post-pellet is a management strategy to increase pelleting production rate while concurrently decreasing energy usage of the grinding and pelleting processes. This study evaluated the addition of screened rolled corn to pelleted feed on live performance and meat yield of broiler chickens during a 56-d grow-out. Four dietary treatments were provided: 1) Control – no added corn post-pellet from 18 to 56 d of age; 2) Adding 25% of the formulated corn post-pellet from 18 to 56 d of age; 3) Addition of 10, 20, and 30% of the formulated corn post-pellet from 18 to 35, 36 to 46, and 47 to 56 d of age, respectively; and 4) Addition of 20, 30, and 40% of the formulated corn post-pellet from 18 to 35, 36 to 46, and 47 to 56 d of age, respectively. Final BW, cumulative feed conversion, 38-d BW uniformity, and 57-d breast meat weight and yield were similar among the dietary treatments. These results indicate screened rolled corn can be added post-pellet without adversely affecting broiler performance and meat yield.