Effect of Sorghum Based Nutritional Programs on Performance, Carcass Yield and Composition of Breast in Broilers

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted to compare three nutritional programs, which were developed with tannin-free grain sorghum based diets, evaluating performance, carcass yield and bromatological composition of the pectoral muscle of broilers. A total 1360 chicks mixed (50:50), from one to 42 days old Hubbard Flex Broilers, were housed in a completely randomized design consisting of treatments and 10 replicates each, distributed as follows: three programs with whole sorghum grain based diets (nutritional program with daily adjustment, nutritional program with every three days adjustment and nutritional program with four stages and a program with ground and whole sorghum grain based feed (four stages). The cumulative performance was evaluated at, 21 and 42 days, determining feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion and viability. At 42 days, the yield of eviscerated carcass, breast (full and boneless), thighs/drumsticks and wings and breast composition were evaluated. Nutritional adjustments showed better feed conversion, did not affect the carcass, commercial cuts yield and had a good breast meat quality. It can be concluded that daily feed programs could be performed in poultry industry with the mixture of whole sorghum grains and concentrates directly on farms contributing to better logistics and feed transportation cost.

Keywords:
Bromatological; Carcass quality; Performance; Sorghum bicolor

INTRODUCTION

The most important ingredient used in bird´s feed is the corn, which accounts for 60% to 70% of the total formulations cost, occupying a prominent position on the production´s final cost. However, once it is a commodity , its price is subjected to foreign exchange and market prices, which may cause imbalance in the input of internal supply and change the product purchasing strategy, which aims to reduce costs and increase profits (Moura et al., 2010).

This has estimulated interests for searching alternative ingredients for livestock activities which are highly dependent on this input, not affecting the bird´s performance (Santos et al., 2006). According to Carolino et al. (2014), among the researched options, the one that most closely matches the nutritional characteristics of the corn is sorghum (Sorghum bicolor , L. Moench). The cost of the sorghum grain is between 70% and 80% of corn grain and technically can replace up to 100% of corn in broilers (Fernandes et al., 2002; Garcia et al., 2005; Rocha et al., 2008; Garcia et al. , 2013) and layers (Moreno et al., 2007; Assuena et al., 2008) diets, not affecting performance.

A possibility with the sorghum usage is to provide it as whole grain without the need for grinding (Fernandes et al., 2013), resulting in feed cost reduction, because according to Dozier (2002) the cost of cereal grinding represents 25% to 30% of the feed production cost. Besides this important economic advantage, feeding with the whole grain is part of an alternative nutritional strategy. It has several potential advantages: provides an environmental enrichment for birds (Picard et al., 2002) since they prefer larger particles (Xu et al., 2015), stimulates gizzard muscle development and increases the enzymatic digestion (Macleod, 2013).

Feeding programs correspond to the use of different feeding management practices in broiler feed at different development stages or periods. The programs commonly used for broiler production in Brazil follow the recommendations of Rostagno et al. (2011) in which four different diets and each phase are recommended (pre-starter, starter, grower and finisher) until 42 days old.

The chickens nutritional requirements have traditionally been established through experiments in which there is the addition of a limiting nutrient in the diet while keeping the others at appropriate levels. The nutrient level that maximizes the weight gain and/ or feed efficiency is considered the requirement for the study phase (Buteri, 2003; Rostagno et al., 2007; Sakomura e Rostagno, 2007; Rostagno et al., 2011). These established levels correspond to the requirement average value for the evaluated phase, this means that in the starting phase birds receive a sub-optimal nutrient and in the ending phase, they receive an excessive one.

The solution presented for this nutritional impasse has been the recommendation of the adoption of a greater number of diets during the life cycle of birds, known as multiple feeding program ("phase-feeding"), where the differences between the required and the supplied would be lower (Tavernari et al., 2009).

Therefore, in order to ensure greater profitability, it has been recommended to use daily feeding programs, which is still impossible at the level of the poultry industry, but new technologies will possibly be created in the future (Tavernari et al., 2009). This study aimed to compare three nutritional programs, which were developed with tannin-free grain sorghum based diets, evaluating performance, carcass yield and bromatological composition of the pectoral muscle of broilers.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Local and Performing Period

The study was performed in experimental conventional open house, at Glória Farm in Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), located in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, from march to april 2013, according to ethical rules approved by Committee of Ethics in Animal Studies - CEUA - UFU with research protocol number 030/13.

Birds and Experimental Delineation

A 1360 commercial line Hubbard Flex broiler chicks, from one to 42 days of age, were mixed (50:50) and housed, from one to 42 days old, with initial body weight of 44 g ± 2 g. They were provided by a poultry company in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. The chicks were vaccinated against Marek and Gumboro disease in the hatchery.

The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design consisting of four treatments: daily nutritional adjustments program by mixing feed with whole grain sorghum (Daily WS); every three days nutritional adjustments program by mixing feed with whole grain sorghum (3 days WS); nutritional program of four stages with whole sorghum grain (4 stages WS); and nutritional program of four stages with ground sorghum grain (4 stages GS). Each treatment had 10 replications (pens) and 34 mixed birds (50:50) each, amounting 40 experimental units.

Figure 1
Metabolisable energy (Mcal) and digestible lysine (%) levels in the daily nutritional progam according to broilers age.

The diets were formulated in order to meet the broilers nutritional requirements, based at nutritional program recommendation by Rostagno et al. (2011). The nutritional and energy levels, as well as the feed composition of the diets involved in all treatments were based on the four nutritional stages (Table 1).

Table 1
Ingredient´s nutritional composition calculated e analyzed in the experimental diets.

Ingredients (%)	Pre-starter	Starter	Grower	Finisher
	1 to 8 days	9 to 21 days	22 to 35 days	36 to 42 days
Sorghum grain 8.8% CP	53.43	55.27	57.67	60.55
Soybean meal 46.5% CP	37.18	34.57	31.38	28.67
Soybean oil	5.09	6.31	7.44	7.67
Phosphate	1.85	1.50	1.28	1.05
Limestone	0.92	0.94	0.89	0.79
NaCl	0.46	0.47	0.44	0.45
DL-Methionine	0.22	0.17	0.16	0.19
L-Lysine	0.33	0.28	0.26	0.26
L-Threonine	0.13	0.09	0.08	0.07
Initial Premix¹	0.40	0.40	0.00	0.00
Growth Premix²	0.00	0.00	0.40	0.00
Final Premix³	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.30
Total	100	100	100	100
Composition Calculated
Metabolizable energy (kcal/kg)	3,000	3,100	3,200	3,250
Crude protein (%)	22.56	21.36	20.08	19.01
Calcium (%)	0.92	0.84	0.76	0.66
Available phosphorum (%)	0.47	0.40	0.35	0.31
Sodium (%)	0.22	0.22	0.21	0.21
Digestible Methionine (%)	0.67	0.61	0.57	0.42
Digestible Methionine+ Cystine (%)	0.95	0.88	0.83	0.77
Digestible Lysine (%)	1.32	1.22	1.13	1.06
Digestible Threonine (%)	0.86	0.79	0.74	0.69
Digestible Arginine (%)	1.40	1.32	1.22	1.15
Digestible Tryptophan (%)	0.23	0.24	0.20	0.19
Digestible Valine (%)	0.94	0.90	0.85	0.81
Chlorine (%)	0.28	0.29	0.27	0.28
Potassium (%)	0.86	0.81	0.76	0.72
Composition Analyzed
Crude energy (kcal/kg)	4,088	4,274	4,380	4,430
Crude protein (%)	22.60	21.25	20.10	19.00
Calcium (%)	0.92	0.85	0.75	0.67
Total phosphorum (%)	0.67	0.60	0.56	0.50
Mineral matter (%)	5.20	5.19	5.16	5.15
Dry matter (%)	90.30	91.61	91.07	91.42
Ether extract (%)	3.50	3.68	3.83	4.00

• ¹
  Initial Premix (composition per kg of product): Vitamin A 1600000.00 UI; Vitamin B1 600.00 mg; Vitamin B12 2000.00 mcg; Vitamin B2 800.00 mg; Vitamin B6 400.00 mg; Vitamin D3 400000.00 UI; Vitamin E 3000.00 mg; Vitamin K 400.00 mg; Zinc 12.60 g; Copper 1260.00 mg; Selenium 80.00 mg; Iron 10.50 g; Iodine 252.00 mg; Manganese 12.60 g; Folic Acid 140.00 mg; Pantothenic Acid 1600.00 mg; Bacitracin Zinc 11.00 g; Biotin 12.00 mg; Choline 70.00 g; Methionine 336.60 g; Sodium Monensin 22.00 g; Niacin 6000.00 mg,
• ²
  Growth Premix (composition per kg of product): Vitamin A 1280000.00 UI; Vitamin B1 400.00 mg; Vitamin B12 1600.00 mcg; Vitamin B2 720.00 mg; Vitamin B6 320.00 mg; Vitamin D3 350000.00 UI; Vitamin E 2400.00 mg; Vitamin K 300 mg; Copper 1200.00 mg; Iron 10.00 g; Iodine 240.00 mg; Manganese 12.00 g; Selenium 60.00 mg; Zinc 12.00 g; Folic Acid 100.00 mg; Pantothenic Acid 1600.00 mg; Biotin 6.00 mg; Choline 50.00 g; Halquinol 6000.00 mg; Methionine 267.30 g; Niacine 4800.00 mg; Salinomycin 13.20 g.
• ³
  Final Premix (composition per kg of product): Vitamin A 1300260.00 UI; Vitamin B1 166.00 mg; Vitamin B12 1667.00 mcg; Vitamin B2 666.80 mg; Vitamin B6 200.00 mg; Vitamin D3 400000.00 UI; Vitamin E 2167.10 mg; Vitamin K 333.40 mg; Copper 2000.00 mg; Iron 16.60 g; Iodine 400.00 mg; Manganese 20.00 g; Selenium 60.68 mg; Zinc 20.00 g; Folic Acid 100.00 mg; Pantothenic Acid 1333.00 mg; Biotin 6.67 mg; Choline 50.00 g; Methionine 230.00 g; Niacine 4000.00 mg; Virginiamycin 3666.00 mg.

In the daily adjustment nutritional program (Daily WS), the diets were prepared according to the following protocol:

Nutritional levels: From one to eight days old, the ration of the first day was formulated with pre-starter feed levels and in the following days the metabolizable energy levels were increased by the same amount every day, until reaching the initial feed energy level on the 9^th day. On the other hand, the levels of all other nutrients were reduced each day until reaching those levels projected for the starter feed at the 9^th day. Between 9 to 21 days, the 9^th day feed was formulated with starter feed levels and in the following days the metabolizable energy levels were increased by the same amount every day until reaching the growth feed energy level of the 22^nd day. On the other hand, the levels of all other nutrients were daily reduced until achieving those levels designed for growing feed on the 22^nd day. And so on until the 42^nd day.

Feed Composition: In order to achieve the nutritional and energetic levels, sufficient feed amount of each of the four nutritional stages were produced, according to each life day of life and within each expected nutritional levels (Figure 1). It was mixed up, with the aid of a horizontal feed mixer, different amounts­ of pre-starter and starter feed for the first eight days. Different amounts of starter and grower feed were mixed for the next 12 days and so on until the last day.

In the every three day nutritional adjustment program treatment (3 days WS), the same procedure of the daily treatment WS was performed, but the energetic and nutritional levels, as well as feed composition coincided with the same values ​​and inclusions of each three days of the daily treatment.

Experimental Management

The experimental open house had it´s environment controlled, with the aid of fans and nebulizers. The pens were equipped with a tubular feeder and a pendulum drinker. The lighting program was provided 24 hours a day, and the birds received ad libitum feed and drinking water throughout the 42 experimental days.

STUDIED VARIABLES

Performance

The cumulative performance was evaluated at the birds 7, 21, and 42 days of age. In this regard, the birds and feed weekly weighing were conducted; and the number and weight of dead birds were recorded daily to analyze the feed conversion. The studied variables were: average feed intake (FI), average weight gain (WG), feed conversion (FC), and viability (V).

The average feed intake was obtained by the weight difference between the offered and the remained feed of each day, tree days or week period, divided by the number of birds in the period. The weight gain was determined by the weight difference of the live birds from each pen at the end of each week period in relation to the initial weight. For feed conversion, it was considered the weight of dead birds, adding to live weight and still reducing the weight of the one-day-old chicks housed. The viability was calculated as a percentage of the surviving birds in relation to the initial number of birds housed.

Carcass yield

At 42 days, all birds of each treatment, within the replication, were weighed with the Ramuza DP300 model scale (50 grams of accuracy) in groups separated by sex, being determined the average live weight. Then, a new weighing was performed individually for the identification of males and females which showed live weight the same as average weight (± 5%) in their respective treatments. They were identified by a ring affixed to the leg, separated in pens, and noted in forms for the identification of the seal number and live weight.

These birds were subjected to fasting for 12 hours and at the 43^rd day, 10 birds per treatment (5 males and 5 females) were sent to slaughtering, a total of 40 birds were used for carcass yield analysis. At the slaughterhouse the birds were euthanized and stunned by electrical stunning and exsanguination by cutting the jugular vein, respectively. They were plucked, eviscerated and had the cuts made, which were weighed in a Balmak M25 scale (5 grams of accuracy) to determine carcass yield and cuts: eviscerated carcass (without feet, head and neck); breast (full- with skin and bone; deboned - breast without skin and bone); thighs/ drumsticks and wings. The carcass yield was expressed as the percentage of live weight and the cuts yields were expressed as the percentage of carcass eviscerated without feet, head and neck weight.

Pectoral muscle chemical composition

The breast cuts after weighing were placed in labeled plastic bags, sent to the LAMRA where they were stored at -20°C for further percent composition evaluation. In the laboratory, samples were ground in a model CFP-22L electric meat grinder, homogenized and a portion of 200g were placed on aluminum trays and subsequently pre-dried in a forced ventilation oven at 65°C for 96 hours, as described by Silva & Queiroz (2002).

Analysis of dry matter, ether extract and crude protein were performed. The dry matter was determined by the gravimetric method, with heat usage, basing on the weight loss of the material subjected to heating at 105°C, until constant weight. For the ether extract (lipid), the "Soxhlet" (gravimetric) method was used, basing on the amount of solubilized material by solvent. The protein fraction was determined by the "Kjeldahl" method which consists in determination of the total percentage of nitrogen, correct by factor 6.25. The methodologies were performed as described by Silva & Queiroz (2002). All analyzes were performed in duplicate.

Statistical analysis

After checking the variances homogeneity and data residuals normality, they were subjected to variance analysis with 5% significance level, using Tukey test to compare means, through the SAS 9.3 software (SAS, 2011). For the variables carcass yield and breast composition, a factorial design (4x2) was used, four treatments and two genders.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Significant differences were seen in feed consumption at 7, 21, and 42 days (Table 2). On the 7^th day the lowest intakes were obtained by daily (Daily WS) and every 3 day (3 days WS) nutritional programs. On the 21^st a lower intake was observed for the Daily WS, followed by the 3 days WS, which was similar to the four nutritional stages program with ground sorghum (4 stages GS). On the 42^ndday, the highest feed intake was observed in the four nutritional stages program with ground sorghum (4 stages WS) and the consumption in daily, every 3 day and 4 stages GS were statistically equal.

Table 2
Performance of commercial line Hubbard Flex broilers at 7, 21 and 42 days of age, under different nutritional programs.

Parameters	Treatments
	Daily WS	3 days WS	4 stages WS	4 stages GS	p-value	CV(%)
Feed intake (g)
7	0.123 b	0.132 b	0.144 a	0.144 a	<0.0001	8.37
21	1.163 c	1.185 b	1.232 a	1.224 ab	0.0003	3.69
42	4.524 b	4.510 b	4.800 a	4.574 b	0.0006	4.04
Weight gain (g)
7	0.158 b	0.162 ab	0.165 a	0.161 ab	0.0120	3.06
21	0.933 b	0.959 b	0.959 b	0.997 a	< 0.0001	3.30
42	2.880	2.876	2.885	2.860	0.8255	2.03
Feed conversion (g/g)
7	1.078 c	1.109 b	1.174ab	1.199 a	0.0002	6.37
21	1.307	1.294	1.341	1.285	0.0995	3.95
42	1.564 c	1.564 c	1.656 a	1.605 b	<0.0001	2.91
Viability (%)
7	99.41	99.71	98.37	99.67	0.1529	1.45
21	99.12	99.12	97.06	99.67	0.0779	2.36
42	95.88	96.18	93.79	97.71	0.1380	3.74

• Means followed by different letters in the line differ by Tukey test 5% (p<0.05); WS (whole sorghum); GS (ground sorghum).

The Daily WS and 3 days WS nutritional programs had the lowest feed consumption, which can be explained by the better reaching to broilers energy and nutrient requirements levels. These results differ from Fernandes et al. (2013) evaluating broilers performance with diets based on whole and ground sorghum found that feed intake at 42 days old was not affected by the sorghum particle size.

On the 7^th day, the greatest weight gain was observed in 3 days WS, 4 stages WS and 4 stages GS nutritional programs (Table 2). On the 21^st day, 4 stages GS showed the greatest weight gain. However, on the 42^nd day, the cumulative weight gain did not differ (p>0.05) between treatments. Similarly, Silva et al. (2015) evaluated the effect of the whole tannin-free grain sorghum replacing corn on the performance of broilers and nutritional program in four stages, concluded that the live weight at 42 days old between treatments with whole or ground sorghum did not differ. Therefore, in daily and every 3 days nutritional programs obtained the lowest feed intake and the same final live weight, showing that nutritional levels daily adjusted led to better performance.

On the 7^th day, the lowest feed conversion was observed in the Daily WS nutritional program (Table 2). On the 21^st day, the treatments had the same conversion. On the 42^nd day, the lowest conversions were obtained in the Daily WS and 3 days WS nutritional programs. These results were already expected, as these programs had the lowest feed consumption. The 4 stages GS nutritional program on the 42^nd day showed lower feed conversion than the 4 stages WS. These results differ from Fernandes et al. (2013), who observed that the feed conversion at 42 days old was not affected by the sorghum particle size.

Thus, equalized diets suits the requirements of broilers, reducing consumption and feed conversion, this is due to the supply of the daily nutritional requirements, resulting in more efficient use of nutrients. With the phases diet this is not possible, because since the beginning of the phase the chickens receive diets with sub-optimal level of nutrients and in the end receive in excess.

The treatments showed the same viability after 7, 21 and 42-day old broilers. That is, whole grain sorghum and the different programs of feed did not affect the mortality of broiler chickens. Corroborating with these results, Fernandes et al. (2013) found that the viability at 42 days old was not affected by the sorghum particle size.

There was no significant interaction between sex and nutritional programs for the variables carcass yield and cuts (Table 3). Males and females showed the same carcass yield, full and boneless breasts and thighs/ drumsticks, however, the females showed higher wings yields than males. These results corroborate with Stringhini et al. (2003) and Garcia et al. (2005) who no observed differences in carcass yields between male and female. Carolino et al. (2014) also observed that females had higher wing yields.

Table 3
Percentual yield eviscerated carcass (without feet, head and neck), full breasts (with skin and bone), boneless breast, thighs/ drumsticks and wings of male and female broilers from Hubbard Flex line at 42 days old subjected to different nutritional programs.

	4x2	Carcass yield	Full breast	Deboned breast	Thigh/ drumsticks	Wings
Treatments	Daily WS	72.34	29.32 b	22.05 b	26.61	9.59
	3 days WS	72.14	29.25 b	22.72 ab	25.97	9.71
	4 stages WS	73.33	30.56 ab	23.18 ab	26.24	9.55
	4 stages GS	73.36	31.68 a	24.16 a	25.97	9.45
Sex	Males	72.86	29.85	22.91	26.36	9.23b
	Females	72.73	30.55	23.14	26.03	9.92 a
CV(%)		1.53	4.77	5.98	3.51	7,06
p-value	Treatments	0.0319	0.0016	0.0136	0.3766	0,8589
	Sex	0.7049	0.1360	0.5970	0.2615	0,0031
	Interaction	0.4652	0.4227	0.5610	0.2408	0,2657

• Means followed by different letters in the line differ by Tukey test 5% (p<0.05); WS (whole sorghum); GS (ground sorghum).

The daily and every 3 days nutritional programs did not compromise the broilers carcass yield (Table 3). There was no difference in carcass yield between diets with whole and ground sorghum grain, these results differ from Carolino et al. (2014), who noticed that within the sorghum based feed, birds subjected to feed with whole grain had lower yield than those that received ground sorghum grain.

Evaluating nutritional programs with whole sorghum grain in the performance of full and deboned breast, these were statistically equal, so the Daily WS and 3 days WS do not compromise the breast yield. The 4 stages GS showed best breast yield, but for the full breast yield the 4 stages WS was statistically equal to this. For boneless breast yield, the 3 days WS and 4 stages WS were also statistically similar to the 4 stages GS.

For thighs/ drumsticks and wing yields there were no significant differences between treatments. This shows that the daily or every 3 days nutritional programs do not affect these cuts yields.

Females had lower dry matter and crude protein content and higher fat content in the pectoral muscle compared to males (Table 4). Normally, a decrease in muscle protein is followed by lipid increase (Le Bihan-Duval et al., 1998). The female broilers usually accumulate a larger amount of body fat (Stringhini et al. 2003). This occurs due to the presence of hormones and increased metabolism presented by males. Moreover, in the final phase, the proportion of fat accumulated by females was always greater than males, regardless of the diet energy level used.

Table 4
Bromatological composition of the pectoral muscle of male and female broilers from Hubbard Flex line at 42 days old subjected to different nutritional programs.

	4x2	Dry Matter	Ether Extract	Crude Protein
Treatments	Daily WS	27.51 b	2.60	23.66
	3 days WS	27.85 a	2.67	23.60
	4 stages WS	27.91 a	2.68	23.47
	4 stages GS	27.96 a	2.68	23.39
Sex	Male	28.31 a	2.56 b	23.97 a
	Female	27.26 b	2.72 a	23.08 b
CV(%)		1.78	3.78	1.55
p-value	Treatment	0.0002	0.0583	0.3635
	Sex	0.0000	0.0001	0.0000
	Interaction	0.1112	0.9874	0.0865

• Means followed by different letters in the line differ by Tukey test 5% (p<0.05); WS (whole sorghum); GS (ground sorghum).

In the treatment factor (Table 4), the daily nutritional program showed the lowest dry matter content, the other treatments were statistically equal in all composition parameters analyzed. The breast muscle amount of proteins and lipids are influenced by genetic and non-genetic factors (Bogosavljevi-Bošković et al., 2010). Nutrition is the external factor with the greatest influence on the chemical composition of broiler´s meat (Marcu et al., 2013).

The bromatological composition of pectoral muscle is an important quality element for this type of meat (Bogosavljevi-Bošković et al., 2010). For the chemical components of the breast muscle, some authors reported values ​​above 22.50% for total protein and lower than 3% for fat content (Suchy et al, 2002; Marcu et al., 2009). Therefore, the results of all treatments are within this expected range, since the lower total protein content was 23.39% and higher lipid content was 2.68%.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that when using grain whole sorghum in broiler feed, the feed formulation programs involving daily or every three days nutritional adjustments showed better feed conversion and the same results in weight gain, carcass and commercial cut yields and breast composition comparing to 4 stages nutritional program. Thus, daily feed programs could be performed in poultry industry with the mixture of sorghum grains and concentrates directly on farms contributing to better logistics and feed transportation costs.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Jan-Mar 2017

History

• Received
  Feb 2016
• Accepted
  Sept 2016