Cereal grain type may influence performance of low-protein broiler diets

The type of cereal grain in low-protein diets could influence broiler performance, especially at lower protein inclusion levels. But grain type does not affect the environmental benefits of the diet, according to a new study from São Paulo State University.

In the study, broilers fed an all-corn diet had the highest carcass weight and breast yield, and best feed conversion ratio, regardless of protein content. Wheat-corn and sorghum-wheat blends also performed well when the protein content of the diet was reduced by 20 grams per kg. But broilers grew more slowly on these diets when the protein content was cut more steeply, by 40 grams.