Effects of Feed Form and Amino Acid Density on Productive and Processing Performance of Broilers

Limitations in beak size of newly hatched chicks have led the majority of broiler integrators in the United States to feed crumbles during the starter period. Previous research has reported improved growth performance on birds fed micro pellets during the starter period. However, research evaluating the effects of feeding micro pellets in the grower and finisher periods of broilers is sparse. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding varying feed forms on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broilers during the starter, grower and finisher periods. In experiment 1, birds were fed diets with 3 feed forms: mash, crumbles, and 3.3 mm micro pellets during the starter period from 1 to 14 d (25 birds/pen; 8 replicate pens/treatment). In experiment 2, a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of 3 feed forms (mash, 4.4 mm pellets, and 3.3 mm micro pellets) and 2 amino acid (AA) densities (88% and 96% of Aviagen recommendations Ross (R) 708 2014) were provided from 1 to 42 d (24 birds/pen; 7 replicate pens/treatment). In both experiments, birds fed 3.3 mm micro pellets during the starter period had lower feed conversion ratio compared with those that received mash and crumbles from 1 to 14 d (P< 0.05). In experiment 2, birds fed diets with 96% of AA recommendations had higher body weight, carcass yield, carcass and breast meat weight, and lower FCR than birds fed diets with 88% (P< 0.05). These data indicated that broilers can be fed 3.3 mm micro pellets during the starter and/or during the whole production period of broilers.