Comparison of performance and intestinal characteristics of broiler chickens fed on diets containing whole, rolled or ground barley.

Svihus, B.; Herstad, O.; Newman, C. W.; Newman, R. K.

1. In two experiments, no consistent differences in weight gain or food intake appeared between broiler chickens given diets based on whole or rolled barley, but food: gain ratio and gizzard weight as a percentage of live weight were reduced (P0.05) affected by the form of barley. 3. The number of particles in the intestinal contents with sizes larger than 2.4 mm was not significantly (P<0.05) different between broiler chickens fed on whole barley and those fed ground barley, but the number of particles with sizes between 2.4 and 0.7 mm was lower (P< 0.05) when diets with whole barley were fed. 4. Enzyme addition increased (P< 0.05) weight gain and the DM of intestinal contents, and decreased (P<0.05) intestinal viscosity, food:gain ratio and pancreas weight as a percentage of live weight regardless of form of the barley.

British Poultry Science, 1997, Vol 38, Issue 5, p524

0007-1668

Academic Journal

10.1080/00071669708418032