Feeding value of poultry by-products extruded with cassava, barley, and wheat middlings for broiler chicks: the effect of ensiling poultry by-products as a preservation method prior to extrusion.

In one experiment, six treatment diets including two levels of cassava meal, barley, or wheat middlings extruded with poultry by-products (PBP; a 3:1 ratio of broiler offal and condemned carcasses) were compared with a corn and soybean meal control diet for broiler performance from 1 d to 3 wk of age. No treatment differences in body weight (P > .05) were observed, and all chicks averaged 166, 421, and 788 g at 1, 2, and 3 wk of age, respectively. Weight gain and feed consumption were not affected by the experimental diets (P < .05). Birds fed the control diet had better overall feed conversion (1.24) than birds fed the diet containing 20% extruded barley and PBP (1.37) (P < .05). Feeding PBP extruded with cassava (10 and 20%) or barley (10%) resulted in equal broiler performance at less cost than birds fed the control diet. In a second experiment, 10% sucrose was mixed with PBP by weight and ensiled for 7 d at ambient temperatures in an anaerobic vessel. Diets containing cassava extruded with fresh and ensiled PBP (FR-PBP and EN-PBP, respectively) were compared with control diets (CON) for broilers to 6 wk of age. No differences in body weight were observed by 6 wk. Feed conversion of the CON birds was poorer than the birds fed the FR-PBP (P < .05). Chilled carcass yield was better for the CON compared with the EN-PBP treatment; however, dietary treatment had no effect on the percentage breast meat, thigh, drumstick, wing, or cage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)