Indian Journal of Poultry Science

The effect of feed particle size, enzyme supplementation and pelleting on dry matter metabolizability, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus retention was studied. Dry matter metabolizability ranged from 60.85 ± 0.37 (9% CF, 913μ GMD particle size and mash diet) to 66.60 ± 0.37 (9% CF, 905μ GMD particle size and enzyme supplemented). It was significantly (P<0.05) high in T₃ (905μ GMD) than T₂ (669μ GMD). Enzyme supplementation and pelleting resulted in significant (P<0.05) increase in DM metabolizability as compared to mash diets. In enzyme supplemented groups, 905μ GMD group (T₇) was having significantly (P<0.05) higher values than other particle sizes. In pelleted diets also 905μ GMD group (T₁₁) also had significantly (P<0.05) higher values. The nitrogen retention ranged from 58.12 ± 0.41 (T₂) to 63.02 ± 0.27 (T₁₁). Per cent nitrogen retention in pelleted groups T₁₀, T₁₁, T₁₂ and T₁₃ was statistically similar with enzyme supplemented counterparts T₆, T₇, T₈ and T₉, respectively. In T₁₁ (905μ GMD particle size) significantly (P<0.05) higher per cent nitrogen retention was observed than T₁₀ (669μ GMD) and T₁₃ (913μ GMD but higher GSD of 2.47). Per cent calcium retention ranged from 42.77±0.54 (T₂) to 47.07±0.85 (T₇). The results indicated that per cent calcium retention increased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in particle size. There was no effect of pelleting on per cent calcium retention. Among all groups particle size of 905μ GMD was having higher calcium retention. Increased particle size resulted in increase in phosphorus retention significantly (P<0.05). Enzyme supplementation resulted in significant (P<0.05) improvement. Pelleting of diets decreased phosphorus retention in T₁₁ and T₁₂ in comparison to mash counterparts.