Understanding and improving the feeding value of wheat for broilers
Azhar, M.R. (2020) Understanding and improving the feeding value of wheat for broilers. Doctoral thesis, Harper Adams University.
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Muhammed Rizwan Azhar.pdf Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Wheat is the main cereal used in broiler feed formulations in North West Europe, the Americas and Australasia.The nutritional value of wheat and variation in feeding quality have significant commercial importance,as it influences efficiency and rate of broiler chicken growth.This thesis deals with the investigation of variation in nutrient composition of currently available wheat samples for commercial broiler diets in the UK, the relationship between wheat characteristics, AME and growth performance of broilers,and the use of exogenous xylanase on the bioavailability of nutrients and AME of wheat.The first study revealed variation in CP, ash and soluble NSP contents of wheat samples. There were differences (P< 0.05) in AME and N-corrected AME (AMEn) of wheat. The AME of wheat had a maximum range of 1.13 MJ/kg DM between wheat samples. The main energy yielding nutrients (starch and protein)of wheat did not relate with the large variation in AME, moreover, there was no relationship between specific weight and AME. There were differences (13 –14%; P < 0.05) in daily feed intake and weight gain of broilers fed different wheat samples, however, differences were not associated with chemical composition and physical characteristics of wheat. The study also indicated no relationship between AME of wheat and growth performance of broilers. The second study indicated that growing site of wheat crop affected(P < 0.05) the nutrient composition, AME and growth performance, whereas,wheat variety had no influence. The variations in AME were due to differences in polysaccharides composition of wheat between growing sites.The xylanase response to improve AME was related to NSP content (the level of arabinoxylans)of wheat. The findings suggested that the supplementation of xylanase to wheat-based diets should be carefully considered if wheat samples consist of varieties sourced from different growing locations. The third study revealed that the in vivorate of starch digestion differed (P < 0.05) by 25% between two wheat samples with similar proximate nutrients and starch content. Previously,both wheat samples resulted in large differences (11 –12%; P< 0.05) in growth performance of broilers. The study proposed that differences in feed intake and growth rate of broilers may be influenced by the in vivorate of starch digestion and should be investigated using a large set of wheat samples.This project proposed that the future selections of wheat samples for broiler feeds are based on the actual analysis of wheat instead of predicted values. Conventional analytical tests of determining the nutrient composition are unable to predict the AME of wheat. Future research is warranted on factors affecting the growing conditions of wheat crop and the possible influence of growing condition on the nutritive value of wheat for broiler chickens.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
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| Divisions: | Animal Production, Welfare and Veterinary Sciences (to 31.07.20) |
| Depositing User: | Ms Kath Osborn |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Mar 2021 13:39 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Mar 2021 13:40 |
| URI: | https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/17660 |
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