Cereal grains provide the bulk of the energy in poultry feeds; therefore, the utilization and digestion of cereal grains are important. Thirteen different feeds were prepared for this research project. The cereal grains were added to the feed in the replacement of corn and included wheat, barley, sorghum, and dry corn. They were added to the diet at 17, 34, and 51 percent with slight adjustments for protein content. A control feed was formulated with good quality corn as the only cereal grain. Feed preference was determined by two ways, through adult roosters and growing chickens. Two containers were given to each rooster; one containing the control feed and the other containing a test feed. These two feeds were weighed and the feed was given to the rooster for 24 hours. The amount of feed remaining after this period was weighed and the containers were filled again. The roosters showed no significant preference for any type of feed. The growing chicken portion of the experiment was used to determine feed preference and also the metabolizable energy of the feed. Each sample feed and the control feed was tested on four cages of six chicks. The chicks began the trial at hatch and continued for 19 days. At the end of the trial, the chicks and the grams of feed consumed were weighed and the amount of weight gain per gram of feed was calculated. For a two day period, the amount of feed eaten was determined and the amount of excreta was collected and weighed. Using a bomb calorimeter, the amount of calories was determined in the feed and excreta. The apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of each feed was calculated. The feed intake, chicken weight, and feed to gain ratio were not significant different for the wheat, barley, and low yield corn. The best weight gain was for the control feed at 593 grams per chick for the nineteen day period and the lowest was 34% sorghum at 521 grams. The sorghum had a linear decrease in the feed intake and as the percentage of sorghum increased the feed intake decreased. Feed consumption was 750 grams for chicks fed 17% sorghum and 648 grams for chicks fed 51% sorghum. The feed to gain ratio for chicks fed 17% sorghum was 1.31 and was 1.24 for chicks fed 51% sorghum. The AME for barley showed a linear decrease. This linear decrease did not induce an increase in feed consumption to offset the decrease in energy. This may contrast the idea that chickens will consume enough energy to meet their needs. Also, wheat, sorghum, and dry corn decreased the amount of weight gain in the chicks. Hulless barley may prove to be an option for feeds in parts of the world where it is economically viable.No embarg
