Effect of added moisture, surfactant, nutrient density and gelatinized starch on feed manufacturing, pellet quality, broiler performance and energy metabolism

Eighty percent of all feed in the U.S. is currently pelleted. The correct pelleting of broiler diets results in several benefits which ultimately lead to improved efficiency of food production. The addition of moisture to diets prior to pelleting has been suggested to improve feed manufacturing efficiency as well as pellet quality. Pelleting broiler feed chemically alters ingredients, which may effect nutrient availability and/or pellet binding. Moisture addition may influence these chemical alterations. The objectives of the collective research were to determine the effect of moisture addition on feed manufacturing, pellet quality, broiler performance and energy metabolism. In addition, an attempt was made to explain the performance benefit associated with feeding broilers high quality pellets. The research progressed from a preliminary understanding of moisture addition effects to the development of specific moisture addition strategies for the commercial broiler industry.; Adding moisture to feed was initially found to improve feed manufacturing efficiency and pellet quality, as related in past research. However, when moisture containing diets were fed, broiler performance was suppressed likely due to nutrient dilution generated from moisture addition. Since the performance decrease could be attributed to a decreased nutrient profile, and broiler mortality was not effected it was assumed that the addition of moisture per se had no inhibitory effect on broiler performance. When diets were adjusted in nutrient density to compensate for moisture addition, broiler performance parameters were not improved as expected. High oil percentages in moisture containing adjusted formulations were speculated to antagonize moisture addition benefits on pellet quality. Formulations containing various ratios of added moisture and oil were next evaluated to determine proper ingredient percentages necessary to produce high quality pellets while maintaining broiler nutrient requirements. Outside environmental temperature was speculated to affect broiler maintenance requirements and nutrient needs. Adding moisture to low energy diets created pellets of high quality. When these diets were fed to broilers during high maintenance periods, performance parameters were improved. The improvement likely resulted from increased pellet quality which aided in decreasing broiler maintenance requirements. Chemical alterations, specifically starch gelatinization, did not improve broiler metabolism or performance.