Nutritional evaluation of kills pasture hay with free range broiler chickens

Abstract

Aiming to evaluate the digestibility of the nutrients in rations contained kills pasture hay for free range broiler chickens in growing phase, it was used 24 experimental units, distributed on entirely randomized designed in factorial schedule 2x2, it knows: one control ration (RCO) and another ration with kills pasture hay (FMP), offered in two phases of growth, one between 8 and 10 weeks (new foal - FC) and another between 16 and 18 weeks of age (old foal - FR). The chickens were housed in pairs in cages adapted to total excreta collection, organized in standard batteries, receiving ad libitum water and food. The results of apparent digestibility obtained with FMP were lower than the RCO, have been verified general means of 77.63% for dry matter (MS), 83.55% for crude protein (PB), 72.94% for ethereal extract (EE), 30.62% for neutral detergent fiber (FDN), 20.74% for acid detergent fiber (FDA), 76.74% for gross energy (EB) and availability of 18.60% for mineral matter (MM). Therefore, the inclusion of 20% of kills pasture hay in the ration of the chickens, in both growth phases, provided significant reduction in the total digestibility, that suggesting caution to higher levels of dietary inclusion of this legume to free range broiler chickens. Keywords: Apparent Digestibility, Isa Label, Poultry Nutrition, Senna obtussifolia.