The use of high oil corn in broiler diets

We examined the effect of substituting conventional corn (CC; 3.5% crude fat) with high oil corn (HOC; 8.81 and 6.75% crude fat) on broiler performance. In Experiment 1, 100 chicks were assigned to 16 experimental pens consisting of two treatments. Treatment 1, the control group used CC, whereas in Treatment 2, CC was totally replaced with HOC containing 8.81% crude fat. In Experiment 2, 52 chicks were assigned to each of 16 experimental pens divided also into two treatments. Treatment 1 was the control group using CC and in Treatment 2 CC was totally replaced by HOC (6.75% crude fat). Body weight, cumulative feed intake, and feed efficiency were determined weekly for each pen from 7 to 42 d of age. Carcass weight and percentage yield were determined prechill. Results in Experiment 1 showed no significant differences for any parameter measured. In Experiment 2, body weight was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for birds fed HOC at 42 d of age. There were no significant differences among treatments for the remaining parameters. These results indicate that comparable performance of broilers can be obtained when CC is substituted with HOC.