Effect of different levels of germinated barley on live performance and carcass traits in broiler chickens

One experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of germinated barley (GB) on performance and carcass traits in broiler chickens. The experiment lasted for 5 weeks starting from 7 days of age and ending at 42 days of age. Chicks (Ross 308) fed six dietary treatments including a corn-soy diet (corn diet), a barley-soy diet (barley diet), the barley diet plus enzyme (enzyme barley diet), and 3 other diets that GB was replaced with barley at levels of 33, 66 and 100 percent in barley diet (33% BB diet, 66% GB diet and GB diet, respectively). Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design. Results indicated that birds fed on barley diet had significantly lower performance than other groups (P<0.05). Supplementing of β-glucanase enzyme to barley diet as well as replacing GB with barley improved the performance of broilers. Birds fed GB diet had significantly higher carcass yield than other treatments (P<0.05). The lowest abdominal fat percentage was observed in birds fed barley diet or corn diet. It is concluded that, replacing GB with barley, especialy at 33% levels, is more effective than supplementing of β-glucanase enzyme to barley diet in improving live performance of broiler chickens.