Nutritive Value and Feed Efficiency of Broiler Diets Containing Different Levels of Triticale

Abstract

Two metabolism trials were carried out with chickens to study the nutritive value of triticale grains . In the 1 st trial the experimental diets consisted of one of four triticale cultivars as well as maize , wheat and barley grains . In the 2nd trial iso - nitrogenous and iso - energetic diets containing 0 , 35 , 50 and 65 % triticale from either Beagle or Drira outcross 07 cultivars were introduced at the level of 100 g / bird daily.

Diets containing 0 , 35 , 50 , 65 , and 80 % triticale were compared in two feeding experiments with a diets containing maize during starting and finishing periods (1 – 48 days) or during finishing period only (22 – 48 days).

Results from the metabolism trials on chicken showed no significant differences between triticale cultivars in digestibility , N - balance and N - intake . Nitrogen retention was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for both wheat and triticale compared with those of barley and maize , due to a higher N - intake . Adding triticale to the diet at a concentration higher than 35 % lowered the digestibility and N - retention (P < 0.05) in comparison with the control treatment . among diets containing triticale , the best N - balance and daily live weight gain were observed in group fed on a diet containing 35 % triticale grains.

A decrease in productive parameters was observed when triticale was added at a rate higher than 50 %. The best results in both experiments were obtained when triticale rate in the diet was 35 %