The nutritional value of dehulled-degermed corn for broiler chickens and its impact on nutrient excretion

Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State St., West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2054, USA. applegt@purdue.edu

Two experiments were conducted to determine the nutritional value and impact of dehulled degermed corn (DDC) in diets of broiler chickens. In the first experiment, 4 experimental diets were fed from 14 to 21 d of age with increasing quantities of DDC replacing corn as the sole source of energy and protein (93.4% of diet). The AMEn was determined to be 3,267 and 3,364 kcal/kg for the corn grain and DDC, respectively. Apparent ileal amino acid digestibility was determined with birds at 21 d of age. Digestibility of threonine, lysine, arginine, and tryptophan was significantly less in birds fed the DDC versus a corn diet (P < 0.05). In the subsequent experiment, birds were fed diets from hatch to 42 d of age with corn or DDC as the primary grain source. By 42 d of age, BW and feed consumption between birds fed the corn or DDC diet were similar (P > 0.05). However, birds fed the DDC diet excreted 78.1 g less DM and 1.54 g less P by 42 d of age (P < 0.05). In conclusion, replacement of corn with DDC resulted in similar performance of broilers to 42 d of age with reduced excretion of DM and P.

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