Effect of Wheat Dry Distillers Grain in Compound Feeds for Broiler Chickens on Productive and Slaughter Traits

The present experiment aimed to investigate the effect of feeding compound feed with various proportions of wheat dry distillers grain on the productive and slaughter traits in broiler chickens. The study was conducted with 120 male Ross 308 broiler chickens divided into 4 groups with 30 birds each. Each group was further subdivided into 3 subgroups of 10 chickens. Chickens were reared in battery cages with water and feed ad libitum. The live body weight of 1-day-old chickens in all groups was equal. The duration of the experiment was 42 days and live body weight was checked at 10, 28 and 42 days of age, whereas feed utilization – during each period of the life based on feed intake and weight gain of subgroups. Except for the control, the starter, grower and finisher of experimental groups - II–IV were supplemented with wheat dry distillers grain - DDG as followed: Group I – 0%, group II – 10%, group III – 15% and group IV – 20% DDG. By the end of the 42-day period, 5 chickens from each group with a body weight close to group mean were slaughtered and slaughter analysis was performed. The inclusion of 10% and 15% wheat DDG in compound feeds for broiler chickens fattened up to 42 days of age did not have a significant effect on their growth as compared to control group. The inclusion of 20% wheat DDG to compound feed reduced substantially - p0.05 live body weight of chickens by 6.1% vs controls. During the starter period, a trend to poor feed utilization was observed in groups which received 15 and 20 % DDG with compound feed – by 9.7 and 7.6% vs controls, but during the grower and finisher periods, as well as throughout the entire 42-day experimental period, this parameter did not show any significant differences between the control and experimental groups as well as among the three experimental groups. Compound feeds with 15% and 20% wheat DDG fed to broiler chickens resulted in statistically significant reduction of the bratfertig, grill, thigh weights and slaughter yield vs controls at the end of the trial. The inclusion of 20% DDG in the ration also resulted in statistically significantly lower breast weight than in controls. The inclusion of DDG in compound feed for broiler chickens did not influence significantly the chemical composition of meat. Based on conclusions made, the inclusion of no more than 15% DDG in compound feeds for broiler chickens throughout the 42-day fattening period was recommended.