Effects of Extruded Corn with Different Gelatinization Degrees on Feed Preference, Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Fecal Microbiota of Weaning Piglets

Preference and performance trials were conducted to investigate the effects of extruded corn with different degrees of gelatinization on the feed preference, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbiota of weaning piglets. In the preference trial, 144 piglets who were 35 days old were weighed and allotted to six treatments with four replications per treatment. Piglets in each treatment group were allowed to choose two of the following four corn-supplemented diets: conventional corn (NC) or extruded corn with low (LEC; 41.82% gelatinization), medium (MEC; 62.60% gelatinization), or high (HEC; 89.93% gelatinization) degrees of gelatinization for 18 days. The results showed that the piglets preferred diets supplemented with a low degree of gelatinization of extruded corn. In the performance trial, 144 piglets who were 35 days old were weighed and allotted into four treatments with six replications per treatment. Piglets in each treatment were fed one of the four diets for 28 days. The results showed that LEC and MEC decreased the feed:gain ratio at 14-28 days and 0-28 days, respectively, and increased the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein compared with NC. Meanwhile, LEC increased the total protein and globulin content in the plasma on day 14, and MEC increased the ATTD of ether extract (EE) compared with NC. Extruded corn with low and medium degrees of gelatinization increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes at the phylum level and Lactobacillus, Alloprevotella, Prevotellaceae_UCG-03, and Prevotella_2 at the genus level. The results showed that extruded corn can improve feed preference, increase growth performance and nutrient digestibility, and modify gut microbiota, and the ideal degree of gelatinization is approximately 41.82-62.60%.

The impact of various calcium sources offered to Arabic hens during their early-laying stage on calcium consumption and egg production

Objective

The research was conducted to calculate feed, calcium (Ca) intake, Ca requirements, and egg production for Arabic hens during the early egg-laying period.

Materials and Methods

A total of 135 30-week-old Silver female Arabic pullets were randomly allocated to one of three treatments with five replicate cages with a semi-scavenging system of nine pullets per cage in a completely randomized design and allowed to choose Ca from limestone and oyster shells. As a control (T1), pullets were only given a complete feed with Ca and phosphorus percentages according to Hy-line International in 2018. Other treatment feeds were control feed without limestone fed with a combination of limestone (T2) or oyster shell (T3) separately.

Results

The treatments had no effect (p > 0.05) on feed, grit and Ca intake (gm/bird/week), egg weight (gm), egg mass, egg production (%), and feed efficiency, but had an effect (p < 0.05) on Ca concentration (%). Ca concentration was the same at T1 and T3, and both were higher than at T2.

Conclusion

The female Arabic chickens could fulfill Ca requirements by selecting from different sources of Ca. Limestone is better than the oyster shell as a source of Ca. The Ca requirement for Arabic hens in the early laying period based on the Ca concentration of the feed intake is sufficient at around 3.64% since producing the same number of egg production and heavier egg weight compared to a higher Ca level.

Effects of choice feeding and lower ambient temperature on feed intake, growth, foot health, and panting of fast- and slow-growing broiler strains

Effects of lowering ambient temperature in the second half of the growth period were studied in 2 broiler strains with different genetic potential for growth (Ross from 1972 and 2004) when given ad libitum access or pre-mixed increasing proportion of whole wheat in their diet. A total of 48 groups of day-old broilers (n = 64) from the 2 strains were housed as hatched in 48 pens in 4 houses and slaughtered at 6 wk of age. Half of the groups had access to pelleted feed pre-mixed with increasing proportion of whole wheat, the other half had access to pelleted feed and whole wheat in separate troughs. Ambient temperature from 28 d of age was either 21 or 15°C. The fast-growing strain had greater (P < 0.001) live weight throughout (mean slaughter weights 2.6 (±0.014) kg and 1.0 (±0.006) kg). When given a choice, the fast-growing strain consumed a lower (P ≤ 0.004) proportion of whole wheat in their diet in weeks 5 and 6 (20 and 26 (±0.9) % whole wheat), and the slow-growing strain chose a higher (P < 0.001) wheat proportion (45 and 56 (±1.7) %) than the pre-mixed inclusion of 25 and 30%, respectively. The slow-growing strain grew slightly faster in the colder ambient temperature, and slower when given a free choice of whole wheat. Both strains drank more water per feed consumed in the warmer ambient temperature treatment. Foot pad dermatitis, only seen in the fast-growing birds, had a higher occurrence in the colder and in the choice feeding treatments. Gait scoring on day 34 showed perfect gait in more than 85% of the slow-growing and less than 1% of the fast-growing birds. Activity was higher and panting levels were lower in the slow-growing strain (P < 0.001) toward the end of the growth period, with no effect of the temperature treatment on panting. Slow-growing strains increase their energy intake, and fast-growing strains increase their protein intake when given a choice.

Inclusion levels and modes of whole grain incorporation into wheat-based rations differentially influence the performance of broiler chickens

1. The objective was to compare three whole grain (WG) inclusion levels (7.5, 15 and 30%) offered to broiler chickens by three modes of WG incorporation: (i) pre-pellet WG inclusion, (ii) post-pellet WG inclusion as a blend of WG and pelleted concentrate and (iii) post-pellet WG inclusion where WG and pelleted concentrate were provided in separate feed trays against a ground-grain, wheat-based control diet. 2. Ten dietary treatments were offered to 6 replicate cages (6 birds per cage) of male Ross 308 chickens from 7 to 28 d post-hatch. The effects of treatment on relative gizzard weights, gizzard contents, pancreatic weights and pH of gizzard digesta were monitored. Parameters of growth performance, nutrient utilisation (apparent metabolisable energy [AME], metabolisable to gross energy [ME:GE] ratios, nitrogen [N] retention and N-corrected AME [AMEn]), apparent starch and protein (N) digestibility coefficients and disappearance rates in for small intestinal segments and concentrations of free amino acids in plasma taken from the anterior mesenteric vein were determined. 3. Whole grain feeding (WGF) did not influence weight gain, but 30% post-pellet blended and 15 and 30% post-pellet separated treatments significantly depressed (P < 0.05) feed intakes while the 30% post-pellet separated treatment improved (P < 0.01) feed conversion ratios (FCR). WGF regimes significantly increased relative gizzard weights. 4. Overall, WGF generated profound responses in AME, ME:GE ratios, N retention and AMEn that were highly correlated with relative gizzard weights. In general, WGF improved starch and protein (N) digestibilities and again there were some correlations with these outcomes and relative gizzard weights. 5. Post-pellet WG inclusions where WG and pelleted concentrate were offered separately provided chickens with the opportunity to choice feed. Birds showed a preference for the relatively high-protein pelleted concentrate and at 30% WG, this resulted in an improvement in FCR of 7.69% (1.260 versus 1.365; P < 0.001) relative to the ground-grain control diet.

Free availability of high-energy foods led to energy over-ingestion and protein under-ingestion in choice-fed broilers

The objective of this study was to compare energy and protein content of the diet selected by choice-fed broilers with that of broilers fed a balanced diet. One hundred and eighty 1-day-old male broilers were randomly assigned in groups of 10 to one of three experimental treatments (n = 6). Control broilers were fed a standard balanced diet, whereas choice-fed broilers were fed three foods which were more concentrated (Choice C+ treatment) or less concentrated (Choice C- treatment) in protein, carbohydrate or fat. We evaluated food intake behavior, nutrient intake, and performance parameters of broilers from 2 to 7 weeks of age. Choice C+ broilers showed enhanced preference for the high-fat food, which led to higher energy intake and lower protein intake than those of control broilers at 2 to 4 weeks of age. Body weight, weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were negatively affected by diet selection of Choice C+ broilers. Choice C- broilers selected a balanced diet, and showed performance parameters similar to those of control broilers. Our results supported the hypothesis that free availability of high-energy foods bias ingestive behavior of choice-fed broilers toward selecting a diet with higher energy and lower protein than needed for normal growth.

The influence of choice feeding and cereal type (corn or triticale) during the finishing period on performance of mule ducks

The aim of this trial was to study the influence of choice feeding and cereal type (corn or triticale) during the finishing period on performance of ducks. In total, 624 one-day-old male mule ducks (Cairina moschata × Anas platyrhynchos) were divided into 3 groups differing in the diet they received between 56 and 84 d of age: a commercial complete pelleted diet (control group; AMEn 12.1 MJ/kg, CP 15%), or corn whole seeds (AMEn 14.4 MJ/kg, CP 7.3%) and protein-rich pellets (AMEn 9.9 MJ/kg, CP 22.7%) in 2 separated feeders [choice feeding with corn (CFC) group]; or triticale whole seeds (AMEn 13.0 MJ/kg, CP 10.5%) and protein-rich pellets (AMEn 11.2 MJ/kg, CP 19.5%) in 2 separated feeders [choice feeding with triticale (CFT) group]. From 85 to 96 d, 96 birds/group were overfed with corn. Feed intake (complete pellets or cereal and protein-rich pellets) per pen was measured at 60, 62, 65, 69, 78, and 84 d of age. Body weight and body traits were measured at 56 to 84 d of age. Over the entire period, from 56 to 84 d, the feed intake of the CFC group was 7% lower than the control group, and 5% lower than that in the CFT group (P = 0.002). Whatever the diet tested, at 56 and 84 d of age, the BW (4,099 and 4,779 g, P = 0.42 and P = 0.35, respectively) and the carcass traits (P > 0.05) of ducks were similar in the 3 groups. During and after overfeeding, the performances of the ducks were also similar (P > 0.05). The present results suggest that CFC during the finishing period is a solution to reduce the cost of diet destined to ducks. Indeed, using locally grown grains could reduce the economic and environmental impacts of duck feeding, reducing the transportation and crushing processes.