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

This Article 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 Brake, J. D. Articles by Griffey, C. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Brake, J. D. Articles by Griffey, C. A.

Barley Without Enzyme Supplementation in Broiler Grower and Finisher Diets

Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0306; Phone: (540) 231-5087; FAX: (540) 231-3713

D. E. Brann and C. A. Griffey

Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0404

Correspondence: J. D. Brake

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 to their respective grower battery units. The grower 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. Body weight, feed conversion, and yield wee not different for barley fed and control birds. Litter conditions, as measured by litter caking, were used 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.

Key Words: Barley • body weight • broilers • feed conversion • yield