Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler chickens diets on performance, blood chemistry, and meat quality

The influence of feeding a new hybrid of sorghum (ES Shamal, orange variety) in broiler chickens on growth, health, meat, and litter quality was evaluated from 1–42 d. A total of 360-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks (40.1 ± 2.3 g) were randomly assigned to 3 experimental diets: 100% corn-based d...

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Main Authors: Georgeta Ciurescu, Andreea Vasilachi, Lavinia Idriceanu, Mihaela Dumitru
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:Italian Journal of Animal Science
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2023.2212695
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author Georgeta Ciurescu
Andreea Vasilachi
Lavinia Idriceanu
Mihaela Dumitru
author_facet Georgeta Ciurescu
Andreea Vasilachi
Lavinia Idriceanu
Mihaela Dumitru
author_sort Georgeta Ciurescu
collection DOAJ
description The influence of feeding a new hybrid of sorghum (ES Shamal, orange variety) in broiler chickens on growth, health, meat, and litter quality was evaluated from 1–42 d. A total of 360-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks (40.1 ± 2.3 g) were randomly assigned to 3 experimental diets: 100% corn-based diet (S0), partial replacement of corn with 50% sorghum (S50), total replacement of corn with sorghum (S100). All diets were calculated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric with similar content of total lysine, total sulphur amino acids, calcium, and available phosphorous. The results indicated that partial or total replacement of corn by sorghum is suitable for broiler chicken diets with no adverse effects on growth, and slaughter performance, as well as litter quality over the whole trial period. Moreover, the substitution of corn with sorghum, reduced (p = .007) abdominal fat associated with an increase in breast and thigh meat colour (L* values; p < .001). Also, a significant (p = .002) decrease in plasma triglyceride was found in broilers fed sorghum-based diets. Except for collagen and hardness in the breast and thigh, and gumminess only in the thigh muscle, there were no differences in fundamental physicochemical (pH, protein, fat, moisture) or textural attributes of meat due to dietary treatment. However, sorghum alters the intestinal microflora, resulting in a lower count of E. coli in the caeca. It can thus, be concluded that sorghum (ES Shamal, orange variety) can be included in broiler feeds from hatching to day 42, without any adverse effects on the broiler’s performance.HIGHLIGHTS Climate changes become a threat to the livestock sector and finding novel nutritional solutions for feeding farm animals became a priority. New sorghum varieties are valuable in terms of drought-resistant plants. Replacement of corn with sorghum in broiler diets maintains growth performances and carcase characteristics.
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spelling doaj-art-d70813e2f2254f519168e4870e973f0b2025-08-20T02:07:48ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2023-12-0122153754710.1080/1828051X.2023.22126952212695Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler chickens diets on performance, blood chemistry, and meat qualityGeorgeta Ciurescu0Andreea Vasilachi1Lavinia Idriceanu2Mihaela Dumitru3Laboratorul de Nutritie Animala & Biotehnologii, National Research & Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition (IBNA)Laboratorul de Nutritie Animala & Biotehnologii, National Research & Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition (IBNA)Laboratorul de Nutritie Animala & Biotehnologii, National Research & Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition (IBNA)Laboratorul de Nutritie Animala & Biotehnologii, National Research & Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition (IBNA)The influence of feeding a new hybrid of sorghum (ES Shamal, orange variety) in broiler chickens on growth, health, meat, and litter quality was evaluated from 1–42 d. A total of 360-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks (40.1 ± 2.3 g) were randomly assigned to 3 experimental diets: 100% corn-based diet (S0), partial replacement of corn with 50% sorghum (S50), total replacement of corn with sorghum (S100). All diets were calculated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric with similar content of total lysine, total sulphur amino acids, calcium, and available phosphorous. The results indicated that partial or total replacement of corn by sorghum is suitable for broiler chicken diets with no adverse effects on growth, and slaughter performance, as well as litter quality over the whole trial period. Moreover, the substitution of corn with sorghum, reduced (p = .007) abdominal fat associated with an increase in breast and thigh meat colour (L* values; p < .001). Also, a significant (p = .002) decrease in plasma triglyceride was found in broilers fed sorghum-based diets. Except for collagen and hardness in the breast and thigh, and gumminess only in the thigh muscle, there were no differences in fundamental physicochemical (pH, protein, fat, moisture) or textural attributes of meat due to dietary treatment. However, sorghum alters the intestinal microflora, resulting in a lower count of E. coli in the caeca. It can thus, be concluded that sorghum (ES Shamal, orange variety) can be included in broiler feeds from hatching to day 42, without any adverse effects on the broiler’s performance.HIGHLIGHTS Climate changes become a threat to the livestock sector and finding novel nutritional solutions for feeding farm animals became a priority. New sorghum varieties are valuable in terms of drought-resistant plants. Replacement of corn with sorghum in broiler diets maintains growth performances and carcase characteristics.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2023.2212695broilersorghumperformanceplasma metabolitesmeat traits
spellingShingle Georgeta Ciurescu
Andreea Vasilachi
Lavinia Idriceanu
Mihaela Dumitru
Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler chickens diets on performance, blood chemistry, and meat quality
Italian Journal of Animal Science
broiler
sorghum
performance
plasma metabolites
meat traits
title Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler chickens diets on performance, blood chemistry, and meat quality
title_full Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler chickens diets on performance, blood chemistry, and meat quality
title_fullStr Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler chickens diets on performance, blood chemistry, and meat quality
title_full_unstemmed Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler chickens diets on performance, blood chemistry, and meat quality
title_short Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler chickens diets on performance, blood chemistry, and meat quality
title_sort effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler chickens diets on performance blood chemistry and meat quality
topic broiler
sorghum
performance
plasma metabolites
meat traits
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2023.2212695
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AT andreeavasilachi effectsofcornreplacementbysorghuminbroilerchickensdietsonperformancebloodchemistryandmeatquality
AT laviniaidriceanu effectsofcornreplacementbysorghuminbroilerchickensdietsonperformancebloodchemistryandmeatquality
AT mihaeladumitru effectsofcornreplacementbysorghuminbroilerchickensdietsonperformancebloodchemistryandmeatquality