Feeding high-moisture corn grain silage to broilers fed alternative diets and maintained at different environmental temperatures

Abstract

Absorption, alternative feeds, poultry, cholesterol, metabolism, triglycerides.Submitted: September/2013 Approved: May/2014 ABStRACtThe effects of the dietary substitution of dry corn by high-moisture corn grain silage (HMCGS) were evaluated on the performance, nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical parameters of broilers reared in an alternative production system and submitted to different environmental temperatures. A total of 288 one-day-old male Cobb chicks were distributed according to a randomized block design in a 3x4 factorial arrangement: three environmental temperatures (hot, thermoneutral or cold) and four levels of HMCGS in substitution of dry corn (0%, 20%, 40% or 60%). The acid analysis showed that the evaluated HMCGS contained average percentage values of ethanol, lactic acid, and acetic acid (expressed in 100% of dry matter) of 0.7690, 2.7320 and 0.0249%, respectively. Propionic and butyric acids were not detected. Dry corn and HMCGS presented pH values of 5.8 and 3.3, respectively. The inclusion of HMCGS reduced dietary pH, as shown by the values of 5.7, 5.4, 5.1 and 4.8 recorded for the diets containing 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% of HMCGS, respectively. There was no significant interaction between diets and environmental temperature. HMCGS may replace up to 40% dry corn in broiler diets when performance, triglyceride levels, and HDL-cholesterol ratio is considered, and up to 60% when nutrient digestibility is evaluated. High environmental temperature impairs broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum biochemistry, demonstrating the influence of environmental temperature on broiler metabolism and performance.

Effect of High Moisture Ear Corn and High Moisture Shelled Corn Feeds on Laying Hen Performance

“… Kelly and Holmes (1971) report no difference in the feed intake of laying hens (47 weeks old) when 70% of dry corn was replaced with reconstituted HMSC (as a % of diet DM). Cruz-Polycarpo et al (2014) also reported no difference in the feed intake of broilers (7 weeks old) when 60% of dry corn was replaced with HMSC (as a % of diet DM). Furthermore, in a separate trial, which we ran at the same time as this trial, domestic meat-type chickens (90 birds) were fed the CON diet (53.5% commercial diet, on a DM basis), EC diet (61.9% HMEC) or SC diet (71.5% HMSC) from 4 to 17 weeks of age.…”

“…The nutritional value of HMEC or HMSC for lactating cows ( Chandler et al , 1975 ; Ferraretto et al , 2013 ), beef cattle ( Utley and McCormick, 1975 ; Stock et al , 1991 ), swine ( Engelke et al , 1984 ; Asche et al , 1986 ) and broilers ( Garlich, 1976 ; Cruz-Polycarpo et al , 2014 ) has been discussed in several reports. Those reports indicate that HMEC and HMSC are available to such livestock as energy feed.…”