| Popis: |
This research evaluated the influence of kudzu leaf meal particle size on body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion, breast weight, and organ weights of broilers. Treatments (4) included a control and kudzu leaf meal added to replace 2.5% soybean meal in a broiler starter diet at three particle sizes (1.00, 2.00, and 3.35 mm). Dietary treatments were fed to 240 male broilers over a 21 day grow out. Overall, there were no significant treatment effects for body weight, feed consumption, breast weight, or organ weights. There were no treatment effects for day 1 to 7 feed conversion (p > 0.05). There tended to be treatment differences for day 1 to 14 feed conversion (p = 0.052) and a significant effect between day 1 to 21 (p = 0.002). Feed conversion between day 1 to 21 was depressed at the 1.00 mm kudzu particle size. Based on this study, kudzu remains a viable protein source for inclusion in broiler diets and a particle size of 2 to 3 mm would be recommended. |
