Two experiments were carried out to evaluate corn particle size, expressed by the average geometric diameter (AGD), .0.337; 0.574; 0.680; 0.778; 0.868 e 0.936mm on performance, energetic metabolism and intestinal morphology (villi height and crypts depth of duodenum) of 21 to 42 day-old male broilers. In the first experiment, particle size of 0.868 mm showed greater feed intake and weight gain and better feed conversion. Villi height was not affected by the AGD of the diets, but increased with the broilers age (21, 35 and 42 days of age). Abdominal fat deposition was not affected neither the proportion of carcass cuts. Gizzard weight was positively related with particle size. In the second experiment, feed with particle size of 0.337 mm led to a lower energy intake and greater gross energy excretion. Nitrogen retention was not affected by particle size.
particle size; corn; broilers
