Productive performance and meat quality in broiler chickens using tropical wheat (Coix Lacryma Jobi)

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of tropical wheat (Coix Lacryma Jobi) on the production indices and meat quality of 1-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chickens in the Veracruz parish, Puyo canton, Pastaza province, Ecuador. A completely randomized block design was used; the trial lasted 42 days, divided into 4 treatments and 5 repetitions. Treatments with different inclusion levels (20%, 30%, 40%) and a control (0%) were used. In the initial stage, they presented a weight gain of 382.1 g vs. T0 = 334.5 g, and a feed conversion ratio of 1.04 vs. T0 = 1.17. In the growth stage, a feed conversion ratio of 1.23 vs. T0 = 1.29 was obtained, and in the fattening stage, a weight gain of 1289.84 g vs. T0 = 1.29 was obtained. T1 = 1243.98 g, feed conversion of 1.06 vs. T1 = 1.66, with 2% mortality in the growth and fattening stage. The European Efficiency and Ingalls-Ortiz Indices were evaluated, obtaining values ​​of 401.18 and 1.45, respectively. For carcass yield, T3 = 1864.2 g, compared to the other treatments. In the physicochemical tests, better results were obtained with T2 with a pH = 6.02 vs. T3 = 5.84, color and water retention capacity 46.48% vs. T1 = 23%, and better profitability with T3. Concluding that a 40% inclusion of tropical wheat in broiler diets helps to improve zootechnical parameters, meat quality and economic performance.