UTILIZATION OF HIGH OIL CORN IN BROILER DIETS VARYING IN ENERGY CONTENT

A feeding trial tested the performance of broiler chickens fed diets w ith high oil corn (HOC) or yellow dent corn (YDC). Five starter/grower treatments using HOC and YDC were compared in isocaloric diets. Eight replicate pens of 60 male chicks received each treatment. At comparab le dietary energy levels, there were no significant differences in bod y weight, feed conversion, calorie conversion, dressing percentage, br east meat yield, or wing yield between birds fed HOC and YDC. Abdomina l fat content was significantly decreased in diets containing HOC, pro bably due to the higher crude protein content of diets containing HOC. Increasing dietary energy level, regardless of the source of corn, si gnificantly improved body weight and feed conversion without adversely affecting carcass components or parts yield. The opportunity to incre ase dietary energy level without increasing the amount of supplemental fat offers a potential benefit for HOC. Nutritionists and others shou ld consider this evidence in any economic evaluation of high oil culti vars of corn.