Effects of feeding varying proportions of pellets and fines on growth performance and carcass yield of broilers during a 63-day production period1

Authors: McCafferty, Klint; Purswell, Joseph - Jody

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2023
Publication Date: 2/8/2023
Citation: Mccafferty, K.W., Purswell, J.L. 2023. Effects of feeding varying proportions of pellets and fines on growth performance and carcass yield of broilers during a 63-day production period1. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. 32(2). Article 100332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2023.100332.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2023.100332

Interpretive Summary: Pelleting increases the dietary density of feed, which has been observed to improve broiler growth performance and nutrient utilization. Pelleting is one of the primary means for improving dietary quality. Various factors affect the quantity and quality of pellets produced. Field experience has stated that broiler production costs can be impacted if dietary pellet concentrations are above or below 70% and 30%, respectively. However, limited research has determined if significant impacts can be observed if pellet concentrations are within that range. This study was conducted to determine if feeding various concentrations of dietary pellet and fines (100:0, 75:25, 56:44, 42:58, 31:69, 0:100%, and 0:100% mill fines, respectively) would affect broiler growth performance and carcass yield of large broilers. Incrementally increasing the concentrations of pellets from 0 to 100% did not improve broiler live performance and yield. However, feeding broilers 0:100% mill fines negatively affected live performance and carcass yield. Thus, increasing the dietary proportion of pellets to fines may not always improve dietary quality and subsequent performance and yield of broilers. However, feeding mill fines reduced performance and yield indicating its potential as a negative source of variation if it composes a sizable proportion of finished feed. This information is important for feed mill managers, nutritionists, and live production managers of broiler companies as well as universities for assessing the value of dietary pellet concentrations and its impact on dietary quality and subsequent effects on growth performance and yield of large broilers.

Technical Abstract: Pelleting is a common feed milling practice in the broiler industry due to its positive effects on broiler performance and feed handling characteristics. Milling conditions, ingredients, and transportation can affect the formation and durability of pellets, and final feed composition. Field experience has stated that broiler production costs may be significantly impacted when dietary pellet concentrations are above 70% or below 30%. Limited research has determined if differences in pellet concentrations within that range can affect performance and yield of large broilers (>3.0 kg). This study evaluated the effects of feeding various proportions of pellets and fines on performance and carcass characteristics of broilers during a 63-d production period. Seven dietary treatments with varying percentages of pellets and fines were fed from 14 to 63 d of age: 1) 100:0, 2) 75:25, 3) 56:44, 4) 42:58, 5) 31:69, 6) 0:100%, and 7) 0:100% mill fines (feed particles that passed through a No. 10 sieve), respectively. Cumulatively, no differences in BW, carcass yield, and abdominal fat yield were observed between those fed treatments 1 to 6, but broilers fed treatment 7 had a lower BW, and carcass yield than those fed treatments 2, 4, and 5. Birds fed treatment 7 had the highest FCR and abdominal fat yield, and lowest total breast meat yield of all treatments. Broilers fed treatments 5 and 6 had a lower FCR than those fed treatment 1. Increasing the dietary proportion of pellets to fines did not improve the performance and yield of large broilers.