Comparison of a 19.7%‐protein wheat (triticum aestivum L), three 13.5%‐protein wheats, and corn (zea mays) in broiler diets with different protein and lysine contents

Synopsis

An experiment using broiler chicks up to 3 weeks of age was conducted to examine the use of corn (Zea mays), Glenlea, Pitic 62, 13.5%‐protein Neepawa and 19.7%‐protein Neepawa wheats (Triticum aestivum L) as ingredients in broiler diets. Two dietary protein contents (calculated as 18.5 and 23.0%) with and without supplementary lysine (0.3%) were used in the diets containing each of the five grains. The desired dietary protein contents were obtained by varying the proportions of the grains and soybean meal.

Grain, dietary protein and added dietary lysine significantly affected body weights and efficiencies of food conversion.

Significant first‐order interactions between grain x protein, grain x lysine and protein x lysine were found for both body weights and efficiencies of food conversion and resulted mainly from responses obtained with the 19.7%‐protein Neepawa wheat supplemented with lysine when compared with the responses obtained to the other grains. When substituted into the higher‐protein diet, supplemented with lysine, the 19.7%‐protein Neepawa wheat supported a similar performance in chicks to other grains fed under similar conditions.