Effects of dietary sorghum of different tannin concentrations and tallow supplementation on the performance of broiler chicks

Abstract

1. The chemical compositions and tannin contents of 17 varieties of grain sorghum were determined.

2. Commercial broiler chicks were fed from 7 to 49 d of age on 15 experimental diets which varied in their concentrations of tannins and animal fat (tallow), by the inclusion of different amounts of high and a low protein varieties of sorghum.

3. Substitution of a low tannin sorghum completely for maize did not have any significantly adverse effect on performance. Broiler chicks could tolerate up to 2.6 g tannin/kg above which their performance was reduced. Addition of tallow did not significantly affect broiler performance except at the highest tannin content and added fat intake, where weight gain and efficiency appeared to improve significantly.