HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Parsons, A. S. Articles by Moritz, J. S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Parsons, A. S. Articles by Moritz, J. S.

Effect of Corn Particle Size and Pellet Texture on Broiler Performance in the Growing Phase

Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506

Correspondence: ¹ Corresponding author: jsmoritz{at}mail.wvu.edu

A review of past literature revealed inconsistencies in recommended grain particle size for optimal broiler performance. Changing diet formulation and subsequent processing variables may alter pellet texture and potentially affect broiler performance. In the current study, ground corn, varying in size (781, 950, 1,042, 1,109, and 2,242 µm), was added to a soybean-based premix to create 5 different mash diets. Water and a commercial pellet binder were added separately to corn-soybean-based diets before steam pelleting to create 2 pelleted diets differing in texture (soft and hard, respectively). The objective was to evaluate corn particle size, pellet texture, and feed form variation of compound diets on 3- to 6-wk broiler performance, nutrient retention, carcass characteristics, TME_n, feed passage time, and particle size preference. Soft and hard pellets had similar pellet durability (90.4 and 86.2%, respectively) and fines (44.5 and 40.3%, respectively). Increasing particle size of mash diets improved nutrient retention. However, broiler performance and energy metabolism were decreased when corn particle size exceeded 1,042 µm. This observation was due, in part, to increased size and maintenance requirement of the gastrointestinal tract. Broilers fed hard pellets (1,856 g of pellet breaking force) had improved nutrient retention, TME_n, and subsequent performance compared with broilers fed soft pellets (1,662 g of pellet breaking force). Pellet texture may affect broilers in a manner similar to particle size.

Key Words: particle size • pellet texture • feed form • particle size preference