The Potential of High-Yielding Triticale Varieties in the Diet of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A study was undertaken to test the nutritional potential of new high-yielding, high protein varieties of triticale developed at University of New England, Australia containing higher protein (around 20%) for their feeding value in broiler chicken. Three hundred and fifty day-old Cobb broiler chicks was randomly allocated to 10 treatments consisting of 5 cereal diets viz., one wheat and four triticale varieties (H55, H128, H431 and H261) incorporated at 40% level in diet and 5 corresponding diets supplemented with microbial enzyme. The weight gain to 22 day of age on the wheat-fed group was higher (p˂0.01) than on H128 and H261 but not the groups raised on H55 and H418. The jejunal mucosal protein was lowest (p˂0.055) in enzyme-supplemented groups and the activity of alkaline phosphatase was higher (p˂0.05) in chickens on H55 and H128 than on the wheat-based or H418 diets. The ileal protein digestibility on the wheat-based diet was higher (p˂0.01) than on H128 and H261 with lower starch digestibility in H418. It is most probable that these triticale varieties would have similar feeding values as wheat for broiler chickens, provided the diets are iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. Enzyme supplementation did not influence growth performance probably due to lower soluble non-starch polysaccharide levels.