BROILER RESPONSE TO FRICTION COMPACTING OF FEED

Friction compacting is a relatively new milling technology that precon ditions feed. for pelleting, using higher temperatures and pressure th an conventional steam conditioning, Four trials were conducted with ma le broiler chickens to 49 days of age using pelleted or compacted pell eted feeds. In all trials there was increase in body weight of broiler s fed compacted diets at the end of the 17- to 21-day starter period, with this effect being significant (P < .05) in two Of the trials. How ever, this effect:was lost over time, and in all trials there was no d iet effect on either 49-day body weight or feed efficiency. The same e ffects were seen in diets composed essentially Of corn and soybean, th ose containing more by-product ingredients, and diets of lower nutrien t density. There is-a slight indication of increased breast,meat yield in birds fed compacted feeds.