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Effects of the Addition of Roller Mill Ground Corn to Pelleted Feed on Pelleting Parameters, Broiler Performance, and Intestinal Strength¹

W. A. Dozier, III^*,2, K. Behnke, M. T. Kidd and S. L. Branton^*

^* United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Poultry Research Unit PO Box 5367, Mississippi State 39762-5367; Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506; and Department of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762

Correspondence: ² Corresponding author: bdozier{at}msa-msstate.ars.usda.gov

Maintaining an optimal pelleting production rate can be difficult when manufacturing feeds for meat birds. Increased production time may be required to fill feed demand and feed outages occur if demand is not met. Identifying management strategies to enhance overall feed production rate without compromising broiler performance is warranted. This study examined the effects of adding varying amounts of corn, ground through a roller mill, to pelleted supplements on feed production parameters, growth performance, and intestinal strength of broiler chickens. Four treatments were used from 18 to 41 d, which included a control (total diet pelleted), and addition of rolled corn to pelleted supplements at 15, 25, and 35% of the corn required in diet formulation. The final diets fed were identical in nutrient composition. Decreasing the amount of ground corn in the pelleted supplement did not affect pellet durability index in the grower diet, but pellet quality declined in the finisher diet. The dietary treatments did not adversely affect final BW gain or feed conversion. Progressive additions of ground corn to pelleted supplement did not affect gizzard weight or peak force intestinal strength. These data indicate that 35% of the formula corn can be added postpellet to reduce electrical cost for grinding and pelleting and improve overall production rate without adversely affecting cumulative growth performance of broilers.

Key Words: broiler • corn • grinding • particle size • pellet quality

¹ Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.