Milheto em grão e moído nas dietas para frangos de corte

Abstract

The experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of millet either whole grain or ground. Three experiments were conducted: the first was to determine the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) of millet in the form of grain or milled. The results showed that the millet energy is used regardless of the seed´s form (ground or whole grain). Pearl millet presented values of 2784 and 2779 kcal/kg for AME and 2935 and 2931kcal/kg for AMEn when in the form of whole grain or ground, respectively. Another experiment was conducted to evaluate the inclusion of millet in diets of broilers in the pre-starter and starter in a 3x2 factorial arrangement of three diets: no millet, millet whole grain or ground, in two physical forms: meal or pelleted for determine the digestibility of dry matter and crude protein, metabolizability of gross energy and metabolizable energy for broilers. There was no difference regardless of millet form in all phases. It was found that the pellets in the pre-starter had higher energy with values of 3660 and 3773 kcal / kg for AME and 3525 and 3627 kcal / kg for AMEn, to mash and pellet, respectively. In the initial phase only the digestibility of dry matter was different, with higher values for the mash diets (78.7%) and for pellets (76.0%). A final experiment was conducted to verify the performance, carcass characteristics and organ weights of animals in the pre-starter and starter diets cited. Experimental data were submited to analysis of variance and the Tukey test were applied when necessary. It was concluded that the energy utilization from pelleted diets containing whole orground millet grain does not affect performance and carcass of broilers until 21 days of age.