Influence of barley inclusion method and protease supplementation on growth performance,nutrient utilisation,and gastrointestinal tract development in broiler starters

The influence of the method of barley inclusion(fine,coarse and whole barley)in a wheat-based diet and protease supplementation(0 and 0.20 g/kg)on growth performance,nutrient utilisation and gastrointestinal tract development of broilers(d 1 to 21)was evaluated in a 3
2 factorial arrangement.Whole barley(WB)grains were ground in a hammer mill to pass through the screen sizes of 2.5 and 8.0 mm to achieve fine(FB)and coarse(CB)barley particle sizes,respectively.A total of 288,one-day-old male broilers were allotted to 36 cages(6 cages/treatment;8 birds/cage).There was no significant(P>0.05)interaction between barley inclusion method and protease for any growth performance or nutrient utilisation parameters.Birds fed diets containing CB and WB showed higher(P<0.05)weight gain,and digestibility of dry matter,nitrogen,calcium,gross energy,and ileal digestible energy compared to those fed FB diets.Compared to the birds fed FB diets,feed per gain was lower(P<0.05)in birds fed diets made of WB.Fat digestibility of the birds fed CB was higher(P<0.05)than those fed FB and WB birds.Compared to FB and CB diets,inclusion of WB resulted in heavier(P<0.05)gizzards but reduced(P<0.05)gizzard pH.Supplemental protease,however,had no effects(P>0.05)on growth performance and nutrient utilisation,most likely due to the well balanced digestible amino acids and high inherent digestibility of protein in the basal diet,and/or the presence of exogenous carbohydrase and phytase.In conclusion,the present results showed that the inclusion of coarsely ground and whole barley in a wheat-based diet can enhance nutrient and energy utilisation and is beneficial to the growth performance of young broilers.     

Influence of method of whole wheat inclusion and xylanase supplementation on the performance, apparent metabolisable energy, digestive tract measurements and gut morphology of broilers

1. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of whole wheat inclusion and xylanase supplementation on the performance, apparent metabolisable energy (AME), digesta viscosity, and digestive tract measurements of broilers fed on wheat-based diets. The influence of the method of whole wheat inclusion (pre- or post-pelleting) was also compared. A 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used with three diet forms (648 g/kg ground wheat [GW], GW replaced by 200 g/kg of whole wheat before [WW1] or after cold-pelleting [WW2]) and two xylanase levels (0 and 1000 XU/kg diet). 2. Birds given diets containing whole wheat had improved weight gains, feed efficiency and AME compared to those fed on diets containing ground wheat. The relative gizzard weight of birds fed WW2 diets was higher than in those fed GW and WW1 diets. Pre-pelleting inclusion of whole wheat had no effect on relative gizzard weight. Post-pelleting inclusion of whole wheat resulted in greater improvements in feed efficiency and AME than the pre-pelleting treatment. 3. Xylanase supplementation significantly improved weight gain, feed efficiency and AME, irrespective of the wheat form used. Viscosity of the digesta in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were reduced by xylanase addition. Xylanase supplementation reduced the relative weight of the pancreas. 4. Neither xylanase supplementation nor whole wheat inclusion influenced the relative weight and length of the small intestine. 5. Xylanase supplementation increased ileal villus height. A significant interaction between diet form and xylanase was observed for ileal crypt depth. Xylanase supplementation had no effect on crypt depth in birds fed on diets containing GW, but increased the crypt depth in WW2 diets. No significant effects of diet form and xylanase supplementation were observed for the thickness of the tunica muscularis layer of gizzard or villus height, crypt depth, goblet cell numbers or epithelial thickness in the ileum. 6. Improved performance observed with post-pelleting inclusion of whole wheat was associated with increased size of the gizzard and improved AME. The gizzard development hypothesis, however, will not explain the improvements observed with pre-pelleting inclusion of whole wheat, suggesting the involvement of other factors.     

Influence of inclusion level of barley in wheat-based diets and supplementation of carbohydrase on growth performance,nutrient utilisation and gut morphometry in broiler starters

ABSTRACT

1. The influence of barley inclusion level and supplementation of a multi-component non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme on performance and nutrient utilisation in broilers was investigated. Normal-starch hulled barley was evaluated with five levels of inclusion (0, 141, 283, 424 and 565 g/kg) in a wheat-based diet and two levels of enzyme supplementation (0 and 150 g/tonne of feed; a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement of 10 dietary treatments). All diets were equivalent in metabolisable energy and digestible amino acid contents. A total of 400, one-d old male broilers (five cages/treatment; eight birds/cage) were used in the experiment.

2. Regardless of enzyme supplementation, weight gain (WG) increased up to 283 g/kg of barley and was reduced afterwards (P < 0.01). Increasing levels of barley resulted in greater (P < 0.001) gain per feed (G/F). Enzyme addition increased WG (P < 0.05) and G/F (P < 0.001) at each barley inclusion level.

3. Birds fed diets with 0 and 565 g/kg barley showed the lowest and highest (P < 0.001to 0.05) digestibility for all nutrients measured, respectively. Digestibility of all nutrients was improved by enzyme supplementation at each barley inclusion level (P < 0.05). The nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy improved with increasing inclusion of barley (P < 0.001) and supplemental enzyme (P < 0.01). Increasing inclusion of barley increased the relative weight of gizzard (P < 0.001) and reduced jejunal digesta viscosity (P < 0.001). Supplemental enzyme (P < 0.001) reduced digesta viscosity.

4. The optimum inclusion level of barley, with respect to growth performance, was 283 g/kg of diet. Increasing barley inclusion improved nutrient and energy utilisation, possibly through lowered digesta viscosity and better function of the gizzard. Feed efficiency and nutrient and energy utilisation can benefit from carbohydrase supplementation in barley-based diets, regardless of barley inclusion level.     

Dry matter and digesta particle size gradients along the goat digestive tract on grass and browse diets

Physical properties of the digesta vary along the ruminant digestive tract. They also vary within the forestomach, leading to varying degrees of rumen contents stratification in ‘moose‐type’ (browsing) and ‘cattle‐type’ (intermediate and grazing) ruminants. We investigated the dry matter concentration (DM) and the mean digesta particle size (MPS) within the forestomach and along the digestive tract in 10 goats fed grass hay or dried browse after a standardized 12‐h fast, euthanasia and freezing in the natural position. In all animals, irrespective of diet, DM showed a peak in the omasum and an increase from caecum via colon towards the faeces and a decrease in MPS between the reticulum and the omasum. Both patterns are typical for ruminants in general. In the forestomach, there was little systematic difference between more cranial and more caudal locations (‘horizontal stratification’), with the possible exception of large particle segregation in the dorsal rumen blindsac on the grass diet. In contrast, the typical (vertical) contents stratification was evident for DM (with drier contents dorsally) and, to a lower degree, for MPS (with larger particles dorsally). Although evident in both groups, this stratification was more pronounced on the grass diet. The results support the interpretation that differences in rumen contents stratification between ruminants are mainly an effect of species‐specific physiology, but can be enhanced due to the diet consumed.     

The effects of pelleting and glucanase supplementation in hulled barley based diets on feed manufacture,broiler performance,and digesta viscosity

Feeding broilers barley-based diets requires special consideration primarily due to effects on increased digesta viscosity and decreased nutrient digestion. Pelleting and glucanase supplementation are commonly performed prior to feeding broilers barley-based diets; however, the interaction of these practices is complex. The objective of this study was to establish a comprehensive evaluation of glucanase efficacy including: degree of processing, activity postpelleting, broiler performance, and digesta viscosity. Treatments were arranged in a 5 (diet formulation) × 2 (processing) factorial in a randomized complete block design with 8 replications/treatment. The 5 diet formulations consisted of positive control (PC), negative control (NC), glucanase A (GA) 125 or 1,000 β-Glu-U/kg feed, and glucanase B (GB) 1,000 β-Glu-U/kg feed. The PC and NC diets differed in metabolizable energy by 150 kcal/kg and enzymes were added to NC formulations. Diets were either fed as unprocessed mash or ground pellets. Diet formulation × processing did not interact for feed intake (FI), FCR, or total tract viscosity (P > 0.05); however, a trend was observed for ending bird weight, demonstrating that for ground pellets, GA 1,000 β-Glu-U/kg feed was improved relative to NC and similar to PC (P = 0.0903). Benefits associated with GB were not of similar magnitude, perhaps in part due to a 50% decrease in activity postpelleting. In addition, GA benefits were not suggested for unprocessed mash. The main effect processing was significant (P < 0.0001) demonstrating that broilers fed ground pellets resulted in greater pen ending bird weight, FI, and bird live weight gain (LWG) compared to birds fed unprocessed mash diets. Evaluations of glucanase should go beyond in vitro activity and include live bird performance using feed that has undergone pelleting.     

Effect of whole and demucilaged linseed in broiler chicken diets on digesta viscosity,nutrient utilisation and intestinal microflora

1. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of linseed or demucilaged linseed in the diet on the performance, fat and fatty acid digestibilities, metabolisability of gross energy and intestinal microflora. 2. The dietary inclusions were 80 and 160 g/kg for linseed and 160 g/kg for demucilaged linseed. Diets were given to chickens from 1 to 23 d of age. 3. Incorporation of linseed in the diet, particularly at 160 g/kg, depressed weight gain and food utilisation. Digestibility of fat and single fatty acids and dietary metabolisable energy were reduced. 4. Inclusion of linseed in the diet markedly increased the viscosity of ileal digesta. Microbial activity in the ileum and caeca was not greatly affected, but there was a significant increase in the number of lactobacilli. 5. The antinutritional effects caused by feeding linseed were partially overcome by substituting demucilaged linseed for linseed in the diet. 6. Results from the current study suggest that the viscous properties of mucilage are a major factor in the observed antinutritional effects of linseed through increasing intestinal viscosity. Such effects might also be mediated by the gut microflora.     

Influence of whole wheat inclusion and a blend of essential oils on the performance, nutrient utilisation, digestive tract development and ileal microbiota profile of broiler chickens

1. The aim of the present experiment was to examine the influence of whole wheat inclusion and a blend of essential oils (EO; cinnamaldehyde and thymol) supplementation on the performance, nutrient utilisation, digestive tract development and ileal microbiota profile of broiler chickens. 2. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating two wheat forms (ground wheat [GW] and whole wheat [WW]; 100 and 200 g/kg WW replacing GW during starter [1 to 21 d] and finisher [22 to 35 d] diets respectively) and two levels of EO inclusion (0 or 100 g/tonne diet). All dietary treatments were supplemented with 2000 xylanase units/kg feed. Broiler starter and finisher diets based on wheat and soybean meal were formulated and each diet fed ad libitum to 6 pens of 8 male broilers. 3. During the trial period (1-35 d), wheat form had no significant effect on weight gain or feed intake. However, WW inclusion tended (P = 0.06) to improve feed per gain. Essential oil supplementation significantly improved weight gain in both diets, but the improvements were greater in the GW diet as indicated by a significant wheat form × EO interaction. 4. Main effects of wheat form and EO on the relative weight, length and digesta content of various segments of the digestive tract were not significant. Significant interactions, however, were found for relative gizzard and caecal weights. Essential oil supplementation significantly increased the relative gizzard weight and lowered relative caecal weight in birds fed on the GW based diet, but had no effect in those fed on the WW based diet. 5. Whole wheat inclusion and EO supplementation significantly improved apparent ileal nitrogen digestibility. Apparent ileal digestible energy was not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments. 6. Ileal microbiota profiling, using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, showed that the ileal microbiota composition was influenced by feed form. The mean numbers of bacterial species in the ileal contents of birds fed on the GW diet supplemented with EO tended (P = 0.07) to be higher than those of the ileal contents of birds fed on unsupplemented GW based diet. 7. The present data suggested that dietary addition of EO improves broiler weight gain and ileal nitrogen digestibility both in GW and WW based diets, but that the magnitude of the response to EO for weight gain was greater in GW based diet. Whole wheat feeding was found to be beneficial in terms of feed efficiency.     

Influence of bone meal degelatinisation and calcium source and particle size on broiler performance,bone characteristics and digestive and plasma alkaline phosphatase activity

1. The current experiment was performed to elucidate the effects of degelatinised bone meal (DBM) in combination with different particle sizes of limestone or oyster shell on broiler performance, bone characteristics and digestive and plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity.

2. Treatments were applied as a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with three sources of P (DCP, bone meal and DBM) and three particle sizes (50, 100 and 200 µm) of limestone. Chickens were given either DCP or DBM with oyster shell (523 µm), resulting in a total of 11 treatments with 5 replicates of 8 chicks.

3. Performance criteria were measured weekly. Tibia strength, ash, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) content and plasma P and Ca concentration along with plasma and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and P digestibility were measured on d 14 and 28.

4. Body weight and FCR were improved in chicks which were fed DBM or oyster shell in comparison to the DCP and limestone respectively (P ≤ 0.05). Performance was influenced (P ≤ 0.05) by particle size; with coarser particles BW and feed intake were increased (P ≤ 0.05). Tibia shear force and P content were reduced (P ≤ 0.001), whereas tibia shear energy, length, ash and Ca content were increased by substitution of DCP with DBM or bone meal (P ≤ 0.001; P ≤ 0.05). A significant difference was observed in the tibia length between the chicks fed oyster shell or limestone with different particles (P ≤ 0.05). Plasma P concentration was reduced in chicks were fed with DBM, bone meal and lower limestone particle size. Intestinal ALP activity was increased (P ≤ 0.001) in chicks which were fed DBM, bone meal, oyster shell or coarse particles of limestone. The P digestibility in chicks fed bone meal was lower than that of those fed DBM or DCP (P ≤ 0.01). Overall, gelatin removal from bone meal improved broiler bone characteristics through the P digestibility and intestinal ALP activity enhancement.     

Influence of conditioning temperature on the performance, nutrient utilisation and digestive tract development of broilers fed on maize- and wheat-based diets

1. The influence of conditioning temperature on the performance, nutrient utilisation and digestive tract development of broilers fed on maize- and wheat-based diets was examined up to 21 d of age. The experimental design was a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating two grain types (maize and wheat) and three conditioning temperatures (60°C, 75°C and 90°C). Broiler starter diets, each based on one grain (maize or wheat), were formulated and pelleted at the three temperatures. 2. Increasing conditioning temperature decreased the body-weight gain and feed intake in wheat-based diets, but birds fed on maize-based diets conditioned at 60°C and 90°C had higher body-weight gain and feed intake than those fed on the diet conditioned at 75°C. Increasing conditioning temperature increased feed per body-weight gain in both grain-type diets but improved pellet durability index (PDI) only in wheat-based diets; PDI was unaffected in maize-based diets. 3. In wheat-based diets, increasing conditioning temperature decreased the ileal digestibility of nitrogen and starch. Ileal nitrogen digestibility of maize-based diets conditioned at 60°C and 90°C was higher than at 75°C. Starch digestibility was unaffected by conditioning temperature in maize-based diets. No effect of conditioning temperature was found for apparent metabolisable energy (AME). Increasing conditioning temperature decreased digestible protein and AME intakes in wheat-based diets but, in maize-based diets, birds fed on the diet conditioned at 75°C had lower digestible protein and AME intakes compared to those fed on diets conditioned at 60°C and 90°C. 4. Small intestine was longer in birds fed on diets conditioned at 75°C and 90°C compared with those fed on diets conditioned at 60°C. 5. Overall, the data suggest that while the effects of conditioning temperature on body-weight gain and feed intake of broilers to 21 d of age differed depending on the grain type, feed per body-weight gain was adversely affected by higher conditioning temperatures.     

日粮添加阿拉伯木聚糖酶对仔猪血液生化指标和生长性能的影响

探索阿拉伯木聚糖酶对日粮中非淀粉多糖的作用效果。试验选取16头平均体重(7.74±1.03)kg的28日龄长×大断奶仔猪,分为基础日粮(对照日粮组)和基础日粮+1.0 g/kg阿拉伯木聚糖酶(试验日粮组),分别在试验第12 d、第24 d测定各组内脏器官重量、血液生化指标。试验结果表明,在试验第24 d试验日粮组日增重明显高于对照日粮组,且有显著性差异(P<0.05);在不同的试验时期,试验日粮组对内脏器官绝对重量的影响较大,对相对重量的影响较小,对脾脏的影响无显著性差异(P>0.05);在不同试验时间,两组的血清IgGI、gM、肌酐、血糖、血氨、甘油三酯、总蛋白的含量均无显著性差异(P>0.05),第24 d试验日粮组低密度脂蛋白含量均高于其他各组,且有显著性差异(P<0.05),对照日粮组低密度脂蛋白含量高于第12 d,且有显著性差异(P<0.05),试验日粮组血清尿素氮含量明显低于对照组,且在试验第12 d、第24 d时两组间均有显著性差异(P<0.05)。日粮添加阿拉伯木聚糖酶能提高断奶仔猪日增重,从而影响仔猪生长性能和相关血液生化指标。     

特异乳酸菌对麻羽肉鸡部分消化道生理指标的影响

试验选用温氏麻鸡1日龄母雏3200羽,随机分成4组,每组5个重复,每个重复160只鸡。试验Ⅰ组采用基础日粮(不含有抗生素和乳酸菌);试验Ⅱ组为基础日粮 0.0125%黄霉素;试验Ⅲ组采用基础日粮 1.5%乳酸菌制剂饮水;试验Ⅳ组为基础日粮 1.5%乳酸菌制剂拌料后发酵6h。试验期为72d,分为3阶段:前期(1～4周)、中期(5～8周)、后期(9～11周)。结果表明:发酵组可明显改善盲肠微生物菌群结构和氨浓度、降低盲肠pH值、提高十二指肠和空肠淀粉酶活性(P<0.05)。在添加方式上,饮水组效果不如发酵组。从三个生长阶段看,添加乳酸菌对麻羽肉鸡早期作用好于中后期。     

Effects of chitosan on growth performance and energy and protein utilisation in broiler chickens

1. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary chitosan on growth performance, energy availability and protein retention in broilers. 2. Experiment 1 was a 42-d growth assay, in which 294 1-d-old male broilers were given one of 7 dietary treatments. A control feed was supplemented with 5 levels of chitosan (0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 g/kg) or 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline (CTC). 3. Increasing chitosan inclusion gave a nonlinear increase (P< 0.001) in feed conversion efficiency (FCE). Optimal growth and feed conversion were obtained with 0.5-1.0 g/kg chitosan. 4. In experiment 2, 42 1-d-old male broilers (6/treatment) were individually housed but fed on the same diets as in experiment 1. Excreta were collected from d 19-21 and d 40-42. 5. The addition of 0.5-1.0 g/kg chitosan increased nitrogen retention compared with the control group (P< 0.01), while apparent metabolisable energy in the diets was not altered.     

乳酸菌剂对断奶仔猪肠道生理指标的影响

当前,抗生素的耐药性及内源感染等问题使人们将更多注意力集中在寻找残留少、污染小的饲料添加剂,益生素作为其中之一,其生理功能及作用机理成为世界各国相关行业的研究热点.益生素又称活菌制剂,是对动物有益的微生物制剂.乳酸菌作为其中一种,可调节动物消化道微生物区系平衡、改变pH、提高消化酶活性、抑制肠道有害微生物生长,对宿主的营养、免疫应答、生物拮抗及生长等方面均产生有利影响.本试验通过在饲料中以不同方式添加乳酸菌,研究其对断奶仔猪消化道的影响,从而对乳酸菌类微生态剂的作用机理进行探讨.     

Evaluation of a thermotolerant xylanase on broiler growth performance and dietary ileal digestible energy value

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of a thermotolerant xylanase on male broiler performance and dietary ileal digestible energy (IDE). The first experiment consisted of 3 treatment groups with 12 replications per treatment each containing 35 Cobb 500 males for a total of 1,260 broilers placed in floor pens for a 42 d grow-out. The experiment treatments included a corn/soy diet with DDGS control formulated at a low energy level, and the control supplemented with one of 2 concentrations of xylanase (20,000 XU/kg [XYL20] and 40,000 XU/kg [XYL40]). No significant differences in body weight were observed with the inclusion of xylanase when compared to the control diet throughout the experiment. At d 28, the inclusion of XYL20 improved (P < 0.05) mortality corrected feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control diet. Feed conversion ratio was also improved (P < 0.01) at d 42 for birds fed XYL20 when compared to the control. At d 42, inclusion of XYL20 and XYL40 significantly (P < 0.05) increased IDE compared to the control. Experiment 2 consisted of 4 treatment groups with 10 replications per treatment each containing 44 Cobb 500 males for a total of 1,760 broilers placed in floor pens for a 41 d grow-out. The dietary treatments included a positive control (PC) based on a corn/soy diet containing DDGS and phytase, a negative control (NC) diet (PC -150 kcal/kg in AME), NC + xylanase at 10,000 XU/kg (XYL10), and NC + xylanase at 20,000 XU/kg (XYL20). A significant increase (P < 0.05) in BW was observed in broilers fed the inclusion of XYL20 in the NC diet increased (P < 0.05) on d 14. A significant increase in cumulative body weight gain was observed on d 27 and d 41 with xylanase (XYL20) inclusion compared to the NC. These data demonstrate that xylanase inclusion increased energy utilization through improvements in IDE, which improved broiler performance.     

木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡后肠道微生物的影响

主要研究了小麦基础口粮添加木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡后肠道微生物的影响.将120只7日龄肉仔鸡分成2组,日粮分别添加0,0.1%木聚糖酶,饲喂至21日龄,研究木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡后肠道菌群数量变化的影响.结果表明,加酶未使同肠和盲肠乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌和大肠杆菌数量发生显著变化.利用变性梯度凝胶电泳技术研究了木聚糖酶对肉仔鸡后肠细菌群体的影响.结果表明,加酶组回肠和盲肠的图谱比对照组条带相对较多,但差异不显著;组内个体间的图谱相似性比组问的相似性相对较大.木聚糖酶影响肉仔鸡后肠微生物数量和种群的作用效果不明显.     

Influence of pellet diameter and length on the quality of pellets and performance,nutrient utilisation and digestive tract development of broilers fed on wheat-based diets

1. The influence of pellet diameter and length on the quality of pellets and performance, nutrient utilisation and digestive tract development of broilers given wheat-based diets was examined from 10 to 42 d of age. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating two pellet diameters (3 and 4.76 mm) and two pellet lengths (3 and 6 mm). From 0 to 9 d of age, all birds were offered a common starter diet pelleted with a 3-mm diameter die and 3-mm length. Broiler grower (d 10 to 21) and finisher (d 22 to 42) diets, based on wheat, were formulated and then subjected to the 4 different treatments.

2. In grower diets, increasing pellet diameter and pellet length reduced the gelatinised starch (GS) content of the diets. In finisher diets, GS content of 3-mm diameter pellets did not change with increasing pellet length but decreased in 4.76-mm diameter pellets.

3. In grower and finisher diets, increments in intact pellet weight, pellet durability index and pellet hardness with increasing pellet length were greater in 3-mm diameter pellets than those with 4.76-mm diameter.

4. Increasing pellet length from 3 to 6 mm increased apparent metabolisable energy values. Neither the interaction nor main effects were significant for the ileal digestibility of nitrogen and starch.

5. During the grower period (d 10 to 21), birds given pellets of 6-mm length had greater body-weight gain than those given 3-mm length pellets. Feeding 6-mm length pellets decreased feed per body-weight gain compared to 3-mm length pellets. During the finisher (d 22 to 42) and whole grow-out (d 10 to 42) periods, while different pellet lengths had no effect on feed per body-weight gain values at 3-mm pellet diameter, increasing the pellet length decreased feed per body-weight gain at 4.76-mm pellet diameter.

6. Increasing pellet diameter and pellet length reduced the relative length of duodenum. Birds given 3-mm diameter pellets had heavier proventriculus compared to those given 4.76-mm diameter pellets.

7. Overall, the data suggest that increasing the pellet length from 3 to 6 mm improved the body-weight gain and feed per body-weight gain during the grower period (d 10 to 21). While the positive effect on body-weight gain disappeared as the birds grew older, improvements in feed per body-weight gain were maintained over the finisher and whole grow-out periods only in 4.76-mm diameter pellets. Small diameter die holes and longer pellet lengths may be considered as potential manipulations to manufacture high-quality pellets under low conditioning temperatures.