Substitution of finishing feed with yellow corn in creole chickens.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate five levels of substitution of the finishing feedwith yellow corn in the diet of Creole chickens and their effect on productive performan-ce. In total, 96 improved 70-day-old male Creole chickens were randomly distributed in 6treatments, each with 4 replicates of 4 birds. The chickens received diets with 0 (controldiet), 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% yellow corn in substitution of the finisher feed. The chickensof the 0, 20 and 40% treatments, in the phase of 70 to 112 days of age, obtained higherbody weight gain and better feed conversion. Chicken carcass yield decreased with 40,60, 80, and 100% substitution with yellow corn in the diet. The carcass contained lessabdominal fat and liver weight with the 0, 20 and 40% treatments. In conclusion, thefinishing feed for Creole chickens could be substituted up to 40% by yellow corn withoutaffecting body weight, and up to 20% without decreasing carcass yield.