Factors Affecting the Response of Chicks and Poults to Feed Pelleting

AS EARLY as 1937, Patten, Buskirk and Rauls reported that chicks fed pelleted rations gained more weight and consumed less feed than chicks fed unpelleted rations. Heywang and Morgan (1944) found that pellet-fed White Leghorn cockerels were significantly heavier at 12 weeks of age than mash-fed birds. An increased feed efficiency with the pelleted ration was also observed. Bearse et al. (1952) observed that the growth response to pelleting was increased as fiber level in the ration was raised from 8 to 18%. Recently, Lanson and Smyth (1955) obtained superior weight and feed conversion when While Plymouth Rock male broilers were fed pellets. An increase in weight and feed efficiency with pelleted rations containing high levels of barley was reported by Lindblad et al. (1955). These workers suggested that the improved performance of broilers on pelleted rations was not due to increased consumption of feed. Contrary to these reports, Stewart . . .