THE EFFECTS OF INCLUDING GRADUATED LEVELS OF GROUND OATS IN A GROWING RATION FOR BROILERS

Abstract

In two replicated trials involving 3,000 birds, ground oats were substituted for the wheat-corn component of a broiler growing ration at 5 per cent increments to constitute from 0 to 45 per cent of the total ration. The test rations were fed for 8 weeks, following which all lots were fed a standard finishing ration for 3 weeks. Level of oats had no significant effect on mortality rate. The response of growing birds to increased levels of oats in the diet varied somewhat between years and did not follow a consistent pattern. On the average, birds receiving 10 per cent oats gained weight significantly (P =.05) more slowly than did those fed the control ration, but there were no statistically significant differences in gain between the controls and those receiving any of the other levels of oats.For the growing and finishing periods combined, average feed requirement varied between 2.91 and 3.15 pounds per pound of gain. Birds started on the higher levels of oats tended to gain less efficiently than those receiving 15 per cent oats or less during the growing period. Grades for fleshing were not affected by level of oats but grades for finish decreased significantly as the level of oats in the growing ration increased.It is indicated that broiler chicks could make good use of much higher levels of good quality oats in their growing diet than usually recommended, provided a suitable finishing ration is fed to produce the necessary finish.