Location: Poultry Research
Project Number: 6064-32630-011-008-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 20, 2025
End Date: Sep 19, 2027
Objective:
Conduct research to determine effects of corn particle size and feed quality in broiler finisher diets on performance, yield, and gastrointestinal function.
Approach:
Interactions of grain particle size and proportion of fines will be tested to determine the effects of feeds’ physical characteristics on gastrointestinal function with subclinical enteric challenges. Diets will be analyzed for proximate analysis and amino acid content. Gastrointestinal sampling will include organ weights (gizzard, proventriculus, jejunum, ileum, and ceca) and lengths of the jejunum, duodenum, and ileum; pH of the gizzard will also be recorded. Performance metrics (feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio) will be assessed. Processing measurements recorded include hot carcass weight and abdominal fat pad weight, as well as chilled breast, tender, wing, thigh and drumstick weights.