VALEUR NUTRITIONNELLE DU TRITICALE EN COMPARAISON AU BLE ET PERFORMANCES DE CROISSANCE EN CONDITIONS D'ELEVAGE CHEZ LE POULET DE CHAIR

Nutritional value of the triticale in comparison to the wheat and growth performances of broiler chickens The culture of triticale increased in France these last years (300 000 ha in 2003) and the animal feed remains the main outlet of this cereal. However, the references of energy values of the triticale for broiler chickens are little numerous. Two trials of digestibility for broilers chickens (trial 1) and adult cockerels (trial 2) were carried out with the objective to compare energy value of triticale in comparison of wheat, to the similar chemical composition, and at two levels of in vitro water extract viscosity (WEV) of these cereals. At the same time, another trial (trial 3) was carried out to measure the growth performances of broilers chickens in production conditions, with feed formulated with the same wheat and triticale batches. The digestibilities of diets used on the trial 3 were also measured in trial 2. The apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn) value of triticale for broiler chickens is significantly higher (150 kcal / kg MS) that the wheat whatever the level of viscosity is. Contrary to most of the references, no effect of the triticale viscosity on the AMEn was observed. In the case of the wheat, the negative effect of the viscosity was observed but it is relatively moderated (110 kcal / kg MS). In both triticale and wheat traitments, jejunal viscosity measures of diets are in agreement with WEV values measured on diets and raw materials. At equivalent WEV level, the AMEn of triticale for the adult cockerels is lower than wheat (approximately - 100 kcal / kg MS) and no effect of viscosity was observed on the energy values of wheat or triticale. The results of digestibility are consolidated by results of growth (10 to 36 days) similar between wheat diets and triticale diets. Viscosity did not have any effect on growing performances of broilers chickens.