FEEDING VALUE OF PURPLE 606-A, C. W. RED SPRING AND WHITE 607-A WHEAT CULTIVARS COMPARED TO CORN IN BROILER RATIONS

Abstract

A factorial experiment (3 × 5) lasting 8 wk was conducted with Hubbard male broiler chicks to compare the nutritive value of rations containing three wheat cultivars, namely Purple 606-A, C. W. Red Spring and White 607-A, in five corn:wheat combinations in the respective proportions of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100. Although the calculated crude protein and energy content of the rations were similar, body weight and feed efficiency of chickens were markedly influenced by two of the wheat cultivars studied and by the proportions of these cultivars in the rations. Performance of birds fed the rations based on White 607-A was similar to that of birds fed corn, even when wheat constituted the sole feed grain. By contrast, birds fed the rations based on Purple 606-A and C. W. Red Spring had significantly [Formula: see text] lower body weight and feed efficiency than those fed rations containing high proportions of corn or any of the rations based on White 607-A. The concentration of lysine and methionine in the high protein wheat cultivars (Purple 606-A and C. W. Red Spring) was markedly lower than that in White 607-A. Furthermore, amino acid analyses showed a greater content of nonprotein nitrogen in Purple 606-A and C. W. Red Spring as compared to White 607-A and corn. These observations suggest that the lower performance of chicks fed the high protein wheat rations may have been related to their amino acid profile as well as the greater amount of soybean meal needed to make the rations of equal crude protein content.