Whole Grain Poultry Diets Work

REGINA - Jul 9/01 - STAT -- Diets containing a lot of whole grain can be used in broiler chicken and turkey diets, according to results of a recent research project conducted by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food and the Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan.

"Extensive studies were undertaken to see if feeding whole grain to meat chickens and turkeys, as well as to laying hens, would reduce feed processing and transportation costs, and thus improve the net return to poultry producers," explains Dr. Hank Classen.

"We placed particular emphasis on establishing the ages of the poultry and the levels at which whole wheat and barley should be fed, as well as the degree to which current diets can be diluted by whole grain."

Classen says the results indicate that poultry can utilize whole grain effectively if it is introduced gradually, as the slow increment stimulates gizzard development. The results also indicate that utilization was effective if the whole grain did not exceed limits of about 30% of the diet in broilers and 50% in older turkeys of larger size.

"We also found that feeding whole grain did not affect carcass meat yield; the only major impact was the increase in gizzard size. Whole grain was most beneficial when fed with a pelletted diet rather than as a mash supplement."

Classen emphasizes the need to supplement diets diluted with whole grains, however. He says the study found that excessive replacement of regular feed with whole grain reduced nutrient intake and was associated with reduced performance. Supplementing with essential amino acids, an important limiting nutrient in this case, partially negated this impact.

"While whole barley and wheat can be used in poultry feeding, the results suggest that wheat works slightly better," says Classen.

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