APPLICATION OF DIET SELECTION BY POULTRY WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO WHOLE CEREALS

The advantages of offering poultry a choice between compound feed and whole cereals are generating considerable interest. This review summarizes studies which have been conducted to evaluate the ability of birds to select a diet in which one feed consists of a cereal. Both growing and laying birds need a period of learning or adjustment before becoming proficient when given a choice of foods. Previous experience and social interactions influence the way in which they adapt to choice feeding. The production performance of birds is not affected by the type or form of the grain or protein concentrate used in free choice feeding. However, these may affect intake and the efficiency of utilization of some nutrients. Practical feeding systems in which feeds are given separately, in one trough, or sequentially are presented. Theoretically, there is every reason to believe that feeding whole grain has great potential, but practical evidence is still scarce. The advantages and disadvantages of choice feeding using whole wheat and the economic consequences of feeding wheat were investigated. Some progress has been made in the last decade but continued investigation is needed if significant improvements in economic efficiency and bird welfare are to be made. Such questions as to whether to feed a high-protein food or a conventional food in a choice with whole grain, and whether these should be fed separately or mixed together, have yet to be fully answered. Until then, feeding a conventional food diluted progressively with cereal grains to a maximum of about 35% is beneficial for both poultry producers and individual birds.