The effect of highly digestible carbohydrate and protein sources included in pre-starter diets of broilers on their performance

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years, the aim of the production of broilers became more focused on the increase of theperformance of the birds in order to increase profit. To obtain an increased performance with broilerchicks, it is necessary to look at the development of their gastrointestinal tract, the feed requirements andthe ability to digest certain nutrients in the period post hatch. Research have shown clear evidence ofincreased performance of chicks by the inclusion of certain carbohydrate and protein sources in the prestarterdiets, but in contrast to this there are also some research that found no significant effects on theperformance of broilers when certain carbohydrate and protein sources were included in the pre-starterdiet. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that a product containing specificcarbohydrate and protein sources, included in the pre-starter diets of broiler chicks, would have on theirperformance. It was believed that the products to be tested would result in increased performance of thechicks in the following growth phases. Special emphasis was placed on the average daily gain (ADG),feed intake, cumulative feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), European production efficiency factor(EPEF) and the protein efficiency ratio.Different inclusion levels of the different raw materials were investigated in the first trial. Three rawmaterials and a control were compared using a summit dilution process at 100:0, 66:34, 50:50, 34:66 and0:100. Specific production parameters such as ADG total live weight gain, feed intake per week,cumulative feed intake, FCR, EPEF and PER were measured and calculated in order to determine if therewere any significant differences between the treatments with the different raw material inclusions on theperformance of the chicks. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found between the 13 treatments forthe ADG, total live weight gain, feed intake per week, cumulative feed intake, FCR, EPEF and PER. Theresults therefore indicated that there were no significant differences between the different inclusion levelsof the different raw materials and no significant differences for the production parameters for animalsreceiving diets with various levels of the three raw materials. It is thus concluded that these raw materialscan be successfully utilised in pre-starter diets of broiler chicks.The effect of the contribution of sugar to the metabolisable energy (ME) of the raw materials was tested ina commercial grower trial. The three raw materials had inclusion levels leading to supply of either 12% or18% of the ME in the form of sugar. No significant differences were found between the seven treatmentsfor ADG, total live weight gain, feed intake per week, cumulative feed intake, FCR, EPEF or the PER. Itwas concluded that the percentage in contribution of sugars between 12 and 18% to the ME of the prestarterdiets had no significant effects on the production parameters tested.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University