Alimentação de frangos de corte usando grãos inteiros e moídos de milho em dois sistemas de manejo

Abstract

With the objective of evaluate the effect of the feeding of broiler chickens with whole and ground corn in a single and separate feeding, two experiments were carried out at the department of animal science of the Universidade Federal de Lavras. The zootechnical performance, carcass yield and gizzard development were measured. The design employed was the completely randomized with nine replicates. The means of the treatments were compared by Tukey's test with 5% probability. In experiment I, whole, grossly ground and finely ground corn, in a single feeding, were utilized. As to the performance, no significant statistic differences (P>0.05) over the period of 22 to 42 days of age were observed. Dressing yield was not influenced (P>0,05) by the treatments. However, chickens which were fed finely ground corn presented less content of abdominal fat (P<0,05). Height, width and index of the gizzard presented greater means (P<0,05) when whole corn was used without any effect upon its length. The weight of the bird's gizzards which consumed ration with whole corn presented (P<0,05) the greatestmean. In experiment II, the corn in the same three forms as in experiment I in separate feeding were used, added of a check treatment manufactured from finely ground corn in a single feeding. Over the period of 22 to 42 days of age, no significant statistical differences (P>0.05) were observed relative to feed intake, weight gain, viability and European production factor. The means of feed conversion presented significant differences (P<0,05); however, the birds which consumed feed with whole corn presented means similar to the ones consuming the check feed. Both dressing yield and abdominal fat content were not influenced (P>0,05) by the treatments. The gizzard breadthand indexpresented the highest means (P<0,05) when the ration furnished presented whole corn, not affecting(P>0,05) its length and height. The weightofthe gizzards was not influenced (P>0,05) by the treatments. After21 days old,broiler chickens may consume ration with whole corn in a single or separate feeding without harming the zootechnical performance, ready to roast carcass yield and gizzard development.