LIVE PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH OF BROILER-CHICKENS FED DIETS DILUTED WITH WHOLE OR CRUMBLED WHEAT

Broiler chicken diets were diluted with three levels of whole wheat an d two levels of crumbled wheat to determine how feeding whole grain an d diluting feed with wheat would alter the performance of male and fem ale broilers. Grit was not used. The amount of extra wheat added incre ased from 5% at 11 d of age to a maximum level of 30% at 31 d of age. Body weight at 41 d of age averaged 2.130 kg for pullets and 2.422 kg for cockerels and was unaffected by diluting with wheat, in whole or c rumbled form. Total mortality and cause of mortality were similarly un affected by dilution and form of wheat. The feed:gain ratio from 11 to 41 d of age was increased significantly for cockerels from 1.75 at ze ro dilution to 1.84 at maximum dilution. Dilution did not affect the f eed conversion of pullets and form did not influence the feed conversi on of either sex. Dilution of broiler rations may be profitable becaus e of the limited effect on bird performance. Pelleting all the wheat i n poultry rations is unnecessary because bird performance is unaffecte d by feeding up to 30% whole grain in the finisher diets.