<b>Performance and nutrient digestibility in alternative broilers fed with high-moisture sorghum grains silage</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v29i3.557

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate levels of inclusion of high-moisture sorghum grains silage (HMSS) in replacement of dry corn in diet on performance, carcass yield, cuts and abdominal fat, and also economic analysis of alternative system at 1 to 49 d of age. The digestibility of the diets was determined at 21 d of age. For performance and carcass yield analysis, 600 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb) were used, installed in a broiler house, in a randomized blocks, with six treatments based on the inclusion of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% of HMSS in replacement of dry corn, and four replicates/treatment with 25 chicks each. For digestibility, 72 one-dayold male chicks (Cobb) were housed in a thermoneutral chamber, in 24 cages, with 3 chicks/cage and 12 chicks/treatment. The experimental treatments were the same adopted for the broiler house. HMSS can replace up to 50% of dry corn in the diet of alternative broiler chickens up to 49 d of age, without altering performance, carcass yield, cuts or abdominal fat, as well as digestibility at 21 d of age. However, the best economic return and production factor was obtained with 10% substitution.