Wet Feeding Mitigates the Adverse Effectsof High Dietary Rice Bran Levels on Growth Performance and Nitrogen Retention of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the adverse effects of high dietary rice bran (RB) inclusion levels on the feed intake, performance, bone status and nitrogen (N) retention of broilers could be mitigated by wet feeding. Giving a completely randomized design experiment in 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, seventy two broiler chickens, managed in 24 floor pens received one of the two experimental diets (having 20 or 40% RB) either in dry or wet form from day 21 to 42 using a completely randomized design experiment in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Wet feeds were prepared every day by mixing the respective air dry feed with tap water (1:1 w/w). Growth performance, visceral organ weights, N retention and tibia ash percentages were determined. At both dietary RB levels, birds given wet feed ate significantly more feed dry matter than those fed dry form of the respective feeds. The increase of RB level from 20 to 40% significantly reduced the feed intake, weight gain and N retention while increasing the digestive tract weight when the diet was of dry form. Those adverse effects were mitigated when the 40% RB diet was offered in wet form. It is concluded that wet feeding mitigates the adverse effects of high RB inclusion levels on broiler diets.