Production and Carcass Yield of Broiler Using Free-Choice Cereal Feeding

Two trials were conducted to quantitate performance of broilers allowed free-choice feeding of cereals. In Experiment 1, male broilers were grown on conventional starter, grower and finisher diets to 49 d. Experimental treatments involved offering a single feed containing fixed ratios of broiler starter and whole wheat or a treatment in which after 7 d, birds had simultaneous access to broiler starter and whole wheat. In a second experiment birds were fed one of three diets: 1) conventional diets, or 2) starter diet and free-choice wheat, or 3) starter diet and free-choice cracked corn. Each treatment was tested with four replicate groups of 30 male broilers. Diet self-selection had no effect on 49 d body weight. Broilers ate surprisingly similar quantities of total feed regardless of self-selection, although this most often resulted in increased energy intake. Cereal self-selection always resulted in a depression of eviscerated carcass weight, and there is an indication that this may relate to fat content of the viscera. There is an indication of reduced overall feed cost when broilers can select cereals free choice.