Barley without enzyme supplementation in broiler grower and finisher diets

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of barley used in broiler chicken diets fed after 21 days of age. Experiment 1 was conducted in batteries and Experiment 2 in floor pens. None of the experimental diets in these studies used enzymes. Four varieties of barley were investigated in Experiment 1, all six-row cultivars. Body weight gain and feed conversion were not affected by barley variety or level of barley inclusion. In this experiment, broiler chicks were reared on basal starter diets to 21 days of age and then transferred their respective grower battery units. The grown diet contained either 0, 10, 20, or 30% barley in least-cost formulated isocaloric diets. Experiment 2 was conducted in floor pens on pine shavings. The grower and finisher diets contained either 0, 10, 20, or 30% barley in least-cost formulated isocaloric diets. Only one barley variety, Callao, was used in this experiment. Each treatment consisted of eight replicate pens of 81 birds per pen. Bodyweight, feed conversion, and yield were not different for barley fed and control birds. Litter conditions, as measured by litter caking, were adversely affected only in pens where 30% barley was fed. Therefore, barley could be used without enzyme supplementation at up to 20% of the diet in broiler grower and finisher diets that were least-cost formulated.