The Nutritive value of High-Yielding triticale Varieties and Their Potential for Inclusion in Poultry Diets

Abstract

Eight varieties of triticale were obtained from the breeding group and subjected to detailed and proximate analysis, prior to feeding trials. Cultivar H116 contained more protein than the other cultivars (139 g/kg) while the lowest protein content was observed in cultivar H127. The cultivars were very similar in lysine content, containing between 4.3 g/kg in cultivar H127 and 4.9 g/kg in H249. Methionine content varied from 1.6 (cultivar H127) to 2.0 g/kg in cultivar H249. The gross energy content of the grains ranged from 18.2 (H127 and 128) to 18.5 MJ/kg (H55); the other five cultivars being iso-caloric at 18.4 MJ/kg. Crude fat was also highest (27.4 g/kg) in cultivar H55 and lowest in H128, and this may be the major cause of differences in energy values of between these two cultivars. Total starch varied from 578 g/kg in cultivar H157 to 657 g/kg in H249. Cultivar H55 was the highest in non-starch polysaccharides, 139 g/kg while H20 contained only 90 g/kg. Calcium content varied from 0.3 to 0.5 g/kg, respectively in cultivars H426 and H55, while the phosphorus content was highest (4.4 g/kg) in cultivar H157 and lowest (3.5 g/kg) in H20. Phytate was quite high in all cultivars, generally close to half of the total P content. Cultivar H20 had the lowest level of phytate, 1.8 g/kg, while the highest amount, 2.2 g/kg, was found in H249. The in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) varied between 71.1 % (H55) and 77.5 % (H128). Starch digestibility was between 19.5 % (H249) and 40.3 % (H157), and this low in vitro digestibility may be due to the high content of resistant starch. Cultivar H55 was the most viscous during digestion (1.2 cP) and this may be due to the high concentration of NSP in this cultivar.