Effect of wheat distillers dried grains with soluble on performance, carcass characteristics and immunity of broiler chicks

The study was performed to evaluate the effects of wheat-distillers dried grain with soluble (DDGS) levels on performance, carcass-characteristics, lymphoid organs and antibody titer against Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease. A total of 144 day old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly distributed between 3 treatments with 4 replicates and 12 chicks per each replication. The treatments included: control diet without wheat DDGS (A); 3, 4, 6 and 7% wheat-DDGS in starter, grower and finisher 1 and 2 phases respectively (B); 6, 8, 12 and 14% wheat-DDGS in starter, grower and finisher 1 and 2 phases respectively (C). Results showed that body weight at 50 d, daily weight gain at 25-39, 39-50 and 9-50 days significantly decreased C treatment (P.0.05). The feed intake at 16-25 d significantly decreased by C treatment (P.0.05). The feed conversion ratio at 25-39, 39-50 and 9-50 days in C treatment significantly decreased compare to control group (P.0.05). The percentage of carcass, heart, gizzard and ileum significantly decreased by C treatment (P.0.05). Also, jejunum weight percentage in B and C treatments compare to control group significantly increased (P.0.05). As a conclusion, using incremental levels of wheat-DDGS (3, 4, 6 and 7%) in starter, grower, finisher 1 and 2 phases did not make significant change on broilers; performance. On the other hand, inclusion high levels of wheat-DDGS (12 and 14%) in finisher 1 and 2 phases decreased broilers' performance (P.0.05).