Use of n-alkanes for determination of Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) intake in free-range broilers
M. Singh A B D , T. Durali A B and A. J. Cowieson C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Poultry CRC, PO Box U242, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Poultry Research Foundation, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, 425 Werombi Road, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia.
C DSM Nutritional Products, Orkney, KW17 2QT, United Kingdom.
D Corresponding author. Email: mini.singh@sydney.edu.au
Animal Production Science 56(7) 1152-1160 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14778
Submitted: 25 August 2014 Accepted: 20 January 2015 Published: 22 April 2015
Abstract
N-alkanes, long-chained saturated hydrocarbons occurring in plant cuticles, were used for estimating grass intake in fast-growing, free-range broilers. A total of 1440 as hatched mixed sex Cobb 500 broilers were equally divided between one of four experimental treatments in a 2 by 2 factorial arrangement involving conventional (barn) or free-range (barn and range access) production systems and diets (crude protein: 21%, metabolisable energy: 13 MJ/K) with or without in-feed antibiotic (Zinc Bacitracin: Albac® G 150 antibiotic feed premix, Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia). Day-old chicks were randomly allocated to 48 pens (12 replicates/treatment) with 30 birds in each pen. Chicks were assigned to treatment diets on Day 1 while free-range access was available to birds from Day 21 onwards. Alkane concentrations in litter were measured and compared with alkane profiles of the intake components (grass, diet pellets and woodchip). Correction for incomplete recovery followed by estimation using a non-negative least square procedure resulted in calculation of total grass intake from the range area. Kikuyu grass consumption was estimated to be 13.5–14.7% of total ‘as-fed’ intake, equating to 6.34–6.78 g of grass per bird per hour of range access in this study. Taking into account grass consumption, this resulted in a significant increase in feed intake by 8.7–8.9% (P < 0.01) and feed conversion ratio from 2.30 to 2.54 points (P < 0.01). It can be concluded that broilers reared under free-range conditions eat a substantial quantity of grass. However, the nutrient profile of grass is not complementary to the formulated ration and its consumption is likely to lead to an array of nutritional changes for the bird, thus affecting performance.
Additional keywords: broiler, free range, grass, n-alkanes.
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