The influence of whole grain inclusion in pelleted broiler diets on proventricular dilatation and ascites mortality

1. Pelleted diets, incorporating whole or ground wheat or barley in the pellets, were fed to broiler chickens and proventricular dilatation, digesta characteristics and mortality were recorded. 2. The incidence of proventricular dilatation was reduced when whole grain was incorporated into pelleted diets at 200 g/kg. 3. Enzyme application did not influence proventricular dilatation. 4. Digesta contents of intestinal sections were greater and pH lower in anterior intestinal sections when birds had dilated proventriculi. 5. Consideration of overall ascites mortality suggests that the incidence of the condition may be curtailed by whole grain inclusion in pelleted diets. 6. Production efficiency may be enhanced with whole grain inclusion in pellets when feed processing costs and flock health responses are considered.