Poultry Nutrition

Question 1

The digestive tract of a chicken - The crop (storage), proventriculous (stoarage extension similar to stoamch, gizzard (muscular, grinds feed), pancreas - enzymatic secretions, liver - metabolism & digestion of fats, small intestine (glucose, fats, minerals absorbed), 2 caeca (blind sacs - site of fermentation - to do with pathogens etc.)

As the chicken cannot digest fibre well, what would make a good diet in terms of digestibility?

Answer 1

similar to pigs when we formulate diets, they can’t digest very fibrous material therefore need to make the diet quite digestible.

Question 2

What are the 3 basic types of poultry feed?

Answer 2

1. Pelleted feeds are concentrates of high quality grain ingredients with vitamins and minerals added.
2. Crumbles pellets are broken to make it easier for poultry to eat. Same as pellets; concentrates of high quality grain are added with vitamins and minerals.
3. Mash crumbles are smashed to make a “meal”. Concentrates of high quality grain ingredients with vitamins and minerals are added.

Question 3

What is the main benefit of pelleting?

Answer 3

Pelleting - around 80 - 85 C –> homogenous mix.

Also good intake (practically popular).

>80 C killing of bacteria. f you have a high health status, cannot bring in feed contaminated with salmonella and helicobacter.

Question 4

What is the main energy source used in poultry feeds (in Aus)?

Answer 4

Wheat 55%

Question 5

Why can’t we include much Barley in a poultry diet?

Answer 5

Betaglucans –> soluble paste, hinders digestion

Question 6

What is usually the first limiting amino acid in poultry nutrition?

Answer 6

Methionine

Question 7

Why must you supply methionine to a poultry diet?

Answer 7

Insufficient amount of methionine in cereal grains and soybean meal to meet requirements of growth.

–> synthetic methionine

Question 8

what is the trend of Crude Protein in poultry diets from broiler starter > grower > finisher > broiler withdrawal

Answer 8

Crude Protein tends to decrease.

Question 9

What is the trend in Crude Oil from a starter broiler > grower> finisher broiler diet?

Answer 9

Crude oil increases with increased energy requirement

Question 10

What is the trend in Ca in a laying hen diet?

Answer 10

Ca requirements increase with egg production (demand for ca for egg shell development)

Question 11

What is the general trend in protein, methionine, & oil in laying hens?

Answer 11

will decrease over time (opposite to Ca)