Although taking bird feeding behaviour into account in feed production can be challenging, it also offers an opportunity to control poultry feed intake<\/a><\/em><\/strong> . Pelleted broiler feed has many advantages, such as less waste and better feed hygiene, but its most important difference compared with mash is higher feed intake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Birds prefer to select larger particles, and this has been observed at all ages. In terms of intake, one pellet counts as one bite regardless of its size, which has several consequences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.<\/strong> Broilers fed pellets take in more energy and nutrients. Because feeding time is limited, this is an important factor in maximising feed intake, especially in young birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2.<\/strong> A more uniform diet with particle sizes in a narrower range reduces the time spent searching for and selecting larger particles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3.<\/strong> Preferred ingredients such as corn cannot be separated out in pellets as they can in mash. This gives a more balanced nutrient supply, because adequate intake of minor ingredients, including additives of different densities such as minerals (heavy) or fibre (light), can be ensured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n Broilers fed pellets perform better than those fed mash because of their higher feed intake, which is why most broiler feed is pelleted. It is also essential to assess the quality of pelleted feed: broilers fed poor-quality pellets perform like those fed mash, with lower feed intake, weight gain and feed efficiency than broilers fed good-quality pellets, especially at older ages. When assessing pellet quality, it is important to distinguish between measurements at the feed mill and those just before feeding, because friction during transport reduces pellet quality. Supplying high-quality pelleted feed<\/em><\/a><\/strong> is essential for maximum feed intake and high broiler performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of the benefit of pelleting comes from a higher metabolisable energy content, which improves weight gain and the feed-to-gain ratio. The largest improvement from pelleting wheat bran can be attributed to higher bulk density, requiring less time and energy to eat, and better access to the nutrients of the wheat aleurone layer. For wheat middlings, pelleting does not significantly increase metabolisable energy but greatly improves feed intake and performance. The higher intake is not due to the change in bulk density but to the transformation of the wheat middlings, which prevents the beak-sticking and necrosis (with loss of appetite among its signs) that occur when wheat middlings are fed unprocessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Protein utilisation and amino acid absorption also increase with pelleting, even if the pellets are ground back into mash. Such improvements have been seen mainly for wheat bran and wheat germ and can be largely attributed to the destruction of heat-labile toxic factors that impair protein digestion and utilisation.<\/p>\n\n\n Pelleting preserves the normal structure and function of the digestive tract. The gizzards of birds fed pellets were well developed, whereas those of other birds atrophied because their diet lacked firm feed and they used material from the floor to grind it. A well-developed gizzard acts as a barrier against pathogenic bacteria reaching the lower digestive tract. Studies have also shown that the small intestine adapts better to pelleted feed than to mash: pelleting increases villus height through physical stimulation and thus the absorptive capacity of the small intestine, and reduces the thickness of the muscle layer, allowing more contact between nutrients and villi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feeding pellets to broilers can reduce the energy needed for eating by 67%, so this energy is used for other productive purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To compare the effect of pelleted feed on broiler performance, a trial was carried out on three flocks of the same breed. Under similar, managed conditions over eight weeks, each flock was given pelleted and non-pelleted feed. The results are shown in the table below.<\/p>\n\n\n In all three flocks the feed conversion ratio was higher when pellets were removed from the diet, and the differences in feed conversion when birds were fed pellets can be linked to pellet quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is estimated that every 10% increase in fines in pelleted feed raises the feed conversion ratio by 0.01.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides feed form, the size of the ingredients in pelleted feed matters when the feed is broken down in the crop. This is because the broiler’s gizzard works much like a mill, grinding feed into smaller pieces. Coarse particles stimulate gizzard activity, improving grinding and gizzard development, and by staying longer in the gizzard they further stimulate digestion and weight gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fine particles, on the other hand, cause problems such as poor gut motility, proventriculus enlargement, dehydration and electrolyte reabsorption issues, more feather pecking and lower resistance to intestinal pathogens. Even so, reducing particle size can improve nutrient digestibility as long as metabolisable energy is not affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, except for young birds, coarser feed offers more benefits for broiler performance and health. Young birds, whose digestive system is not yet fully developed, are better suited to finer feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In conclusion, given broiler feeding behaviour, pelleted or crumbled feed is recommended for higher feed intake, better performance, less segregation and less feed waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feed form is one of the most important factors determining feed intake in laying hens. Although pelleted feed is generally believed to have a positive effect, some studies have found no difference in performance between pelleted and mash feed. A recently published paper assessed the effects of feed form on production performance, egg quality, nutrient metabolism and gut morphology in two layer strains. 216 laying hens aged 25 weeks, Hy-Line Brown and Hy-Line Grey (108 of each), were randomly divided by strain into two groups, one fed mash and the other pellets, with 6 replicates per group and 9 hens per replicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daily production was recorded and egg quality was measured every two weeks. At 42 weeks, one hen from each replicate was selected to determine metabolism and examine gut morphology. Compared with mash, pelleted feed improved laying rate, average daily feed intake, egg weight, shell strength, yolk proportion and Haugh units in both strains, and reduced the feed conversion ratio. Dry matter and crude protein digestibility were significantly higher in both strains fed pellets. Phosphorus and calcium digestibility was higher in Hy-Line Grey hens fed pellets, but in Hy-Line Brown hens it was higher with mash. Pelleted feed also increased villus height in both strains, ultimately increasing absorption by the small intestine. Overall, layer feed<\/em><\/a><\/strong> in pelleted form improves production performance and nutrient metabolism by positively changing laying rate, feed intake, albumen quality and digestibility in laying hens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article we looked at how feed form and size affect broilers and layers, and found that supplying good-quality pellets of the right size is essential for maximum feed intake, better digestion, high broiler performance and a lower feed conversion ratio. Pelleted feed also has positive effects on feed intake, egg quality and production performance in layers. So, besides managing bird feeding behaviour, supplying high-quality processed feed is extremely important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you prefer, you can listen to this article as a podcast<\/em><\/a><\/strong> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sgk-co.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Different-broiler-feed-forms.jpeg\")
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nA healthier digestive tract<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Feed pelleting<\/em><\/a> and broiler performance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOther benefits of pelleted feed:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The effect of feed particle size on gizzard development and digestion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The effect of pelleted feed on layer performance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n