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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment » Agroecosystems Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #434549
Research Project: Physiological, Microbiological, and Nutritional Mechanisms to Maintain Animal Productivity in the Absence of Antibiotics

Location: Agroecosystems Management Research

Title: Impact of U.S. sorghum particle size on feed characteristics, growth performance, gizzard weight and pH in broiler chickens

Author
item WILSON, VICTORIA - Kansas State University
item OTOTT, HALEY - Kansas State University
item PEZZALLI, JULIA - Kansas State University
item Kerr, Brian
item PAULK, CHAD - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/24/2026
Publication Date: 8/20/2026
Citation: Wilson, V.C., Otott, H.K., Pezzalli, J.G., Kerr, B.J., Lopez D.A., Paulk, C.B. 2026. Impact of U.S. sorghum particle size on feed characteristics, growth performance, gizzard weight and pH in broiler chickens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2026.100767.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2026.100767

Interpretive Summary: Sorghum is a cereal grain that can potentially replace corn in broiler diets, particularly in regions where it is more readily available or cost-effective. In addition, the particle size of sorghum will influence the development of the digestive tract in a bird where coarser feeds often contribute to improved nutrient digestibility. Data from this experiment indicate that broilers fed U.S. sorghum-based diets exhibited comparable rates of growth, feed intake, and feed conversion compared to broilers fed corn-based diets, with a coarser particle size being optimal for growth performance and development of the digestive system. This information is valuable to the poultry industry, nutritionists, and producers, indicating that sorghum is an alternative grain source that could be fed to broilers depending on availability and cost, thereby expanding the markets for U.S. agricultural products.

Technical Abstract: Sorghum is a cereal grain that can serve as an energy source in broiler diets when it is competitively priced for feed formulation. The objective of this study was to evaluate U.S. sorghum particle size (mean geometric diameter, dgw) effects on growth performance, gizzard weight, and pH in broilers from 4-49 days of age. A floor pen study was conducted with a treatment structure of 850 µm for corn and 414, 606, 821, 1046, and 1124 µm for the sorghum treatments. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) adjusted for mortality were determined. On day 49, two birds of average body weight were selected from each pen for determination of gizzard pH and weight. Overall (days 4-49), birds fed sorghum-based diets had increased (P < 0.05) BWG and FI compared to those fed the corn-based diets, resulting in no difference in FCR (P > 0.05). Increasing sorghum particle size tended to increase FI (linear, P = 0.059) and BWG (quadratic, P = 0.056) of broilers, with the majority of the improvements in BWG occurring when sorghum particle size was ground to 1,200 µm. Increasing sorghum dgw up to 1000 µm increased relative gizzard weight (quadratic, P < 0.01). In conclusion, broilers fed the U.S. sorghum-based diets had increased BWG and FI compared to those fed the corn-based diets with no evidence of difference in FCR. Targeting a coarser particle size in the 1,000 to 1,200 µm range was optimal for growth performance and gizzard development.