METABOLISM AND NUTRITION

Effect of pelleting and different feeding programs on growth performance,

carcass yield, and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens

Andréia Massuquetto ,∗,1 Josiane C. Panisson,∗ Francielle O. Marx,∗ Diego Surek,†

Everton L. Krabbe,† and Alex Maiorka∗
∗
Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 80035-050, Brazil; and † Embrapa Swine
and Poultry, Concórdia 89715-899, Brazil

ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to
study the effect of different feeding programs and pel-
leting on performance, nutrient digestibility, ileal di-
gestible energy (IDE); and carcass yield of broilers from
21 to 35 d of age. In total, 768 male broilers were dis-
tributed according to a completely randomized design
with 6 treatments and 8 replicates of 16 birds each. The
treatments were mash and pelleted diets provided ad li-
bitum, or pelleted and supplied at the same rate (100%)
or restricted at 95, 90, and 85% (P100, P95, P90, and
P85) of the amount consumed by the birds fed mash
diet ad libitum. When supplied ad libitum, the pelleted
diet had the highest feed intake and weight gain (WG),
better feed conversion ratio (FCR), better feed con-
version adjusted for 2.3 kg (AdjFCR, P < 0.001) and
caloric conversion (P < 0.001); and higher amount of
abdominal fat (P < 0.001) when compared to the con-
trol (mash ad libitum). However, there were no effects
on nutrient digestibility (P > 0.05). When the pelleted
Key words: broiler, feed intake, feed restriction, pair-feeding, thermal processing
feed was provided in the same amount as in the control
group, there were no differences in any of the evaluated
parameters (P > 0.05). Limiting pelleted diet to 95,
90, and 85% of free choice mash diet resulted in lower
WG (P < 0.001). P90 and P95 treatments resulted in
higher dry matter and crude protein digestibility and
IDE in relation to the others (P < 0.001). Carcass yield
was reduced (P < 0.05) in the birds fed P85 diet. The
regression analysis between P100, P95, P90, and P85
showed a linear reduction in WG when restriction was
increased (P < 0.01); however, there was a linear in-
crease in the nutrient digestibility (P < 0.001). It is
concluded that pelleting improves broiler performance,
but these results depend on feed intake. The higher
intake provided by pelleting can increase the amount
of abdominal fat. Feed intake reduction can result in
lower performance and lower carcass and cuts yield in
broilers.
2019 Poultry Science 98:5497–5503
http://dx.doi.org/10.3382/ps/pez176

INTRODUCTION sults can be attributed to an improved feed value

In order to maximize growth, pelleting is the most
widely thermal processing used in broiler diets (Dozier
et al., 2010). Some pelleting benefits include reduction
of ingredients segregation, ease of handling, better feed
flow in the equipment, and makes it possible to reduce
formulation cost by including alternative ingredients
(Behnke, 1994; Fairfield, 2003) and decreasing the diet
energy (Skinner et al., 1992; Lecznieski et al., 2001).
It is well established that broilers fed pelleted di-
ets have better performance (Corzo et al., 2011;
Chewning et al., 2012; Abdollahi et al., 2013; Ming-
bin et al., 2015; Massuquetto et al., 2018). These re-

C 2019 Poultry Science Association Inc.
Received October 28, 2018.
Accepted March 17, 2019.
1
Corresponding author: andreiamassuquetto@gmail.com
and/or a reduced nutrient need by the animal, whereby
the net result is more efficient tissue deposition
(McKinney and Teeter, 2004). Among other factors,
this improved efficiency can be attributed to a higher
nutrient digestibility and energy resulting from the ac-
tion of temperature, moisture, and pressure during the
conditioning/pelleting process (Moran, 1987). Studies
have shown, however, that pelleting has little or no
effect on the nutrients bioavailability (Bolton, 1960;
Svihus et al., 2005; Roza et al., 2018).
As there are multiple factors contributing to the in-
crease in performance, it is not clear if this better
growth performance is due to a higher feed intake ca-
pacity of pelleted diets (Latshaw, 2008), reduction of
energy expenditure associated with feed consumption
(Jensen et al., 1962), increase of productive energy as
less time is spent feeding (McKinney and Teeter, 2004),

5497
5498 MASSUQUETTO ET AL.

higher digestibility of nutrients (Zelenka, 2003), or due Table 1. Ingredient and composition of the experimental diets.
to the association of all these factors.
Ingredient Amounts (%)
Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the
effect of equalized-feeding conditions between mash and Corn 58.688
Soybean meal 32.207
pelleted diets, and the 95, 90, and 85% reduction of Soybean oil 4.000
daily pelleted diet intake in relation to the mash diet Dicalcium phosphate 1.104
ad libitum intake, on growth performance, nutrient di- Limestone 0.770
Sodium chloride (NaCl) 0.481
gestibility, and carcass and cuts yield of broilers from Celite1 1.000
21 to 35 d of age. Inert (Kaolin) 0.200
Mycotoxin adsorbent2 0.200
DL-Methionine 0.966
MATERIALS AND METHODS L-Lysine HCL 0.201
L-Threonine 0.071
All experimental procedures complied with Ethics Mineral premix3 0.050
Vitamin premix4 0.050
Committee on the Use of Animals of the Federal Antioxidant5 0.010
University of Paraná (UFPR).
Calculated chemical composition Amounts (%)
Metabolizable energy (kcal/kg) 3100
Animals and Facilities Crude protein 19.402
Ether extract 6.649
In total, 768 male Cobb 500 broilers from a commer- Crude fiber 2.722
Mineral matter 3.871
cial hatchery were evaluated from 1 to 35 d of age. The Calcium 0.650
birds were housed in 2.06 m2 boxes with wood-shavings Available phosphorus 0.320
litter and equipped with nipple drinkers and tube Sodium 0.200
Digestible lysine 1.045
feeders. Digestible methionine 1.194
The temperature was maintained according to the Digestible methionine + cysteine 1.490
breed guidelines (Cobb, 2013). During the first 10 days, Digestible threonine 0.680
Digestible tryptophan 0.203
incandescent light was provided continuously (24 h),
after which a lighting program of 9 h of dark per day 1
Celite
R
400 Insoluble marker (Celite R
, Celite Corp., Lompoc, FC).
2
CalibrinR
(Elanco, Greenfield, USA)
was applied. 3
Supplied per kilogram of diet: Cu (copper sulfate), 10 mg; Fe (iron
sulfate), 50 mg; Mn (manganese oxide), 80 mg; Co (cobalt sulfate),
1.0 mg; I (calcium iodate), 1.0 mg; Zn (zinc oxide), 50 mg.
Experimental Diets and Growth 4
Supplied per kilogram of diet: vitamin A (trans-retinyl acetate), 9000
IU; vitamin D3 (cholcalciferol), 2,500 IU; vitamin E (DL-α -tocopherol),
Performance 200 IU; vitamin K3 (menadione nicotinamide bisulphite), 2.5 mg; vita-
min B1 (thiamine- mononitrate), 1.5 mg; vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 6.0 mg;
The diets were based on corn and soybean meal with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine. HCl) 3.0 mg; vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
2 feed forms (mash or pelleted; table 1). The mash diet 12.0 mcg; pantothenic acid (D-Ca pantothenate), 12.0 mg; niacin (nico-
had a 1025 μm geometric mean diameter and a 2.06% tinic acid), 25 mg; folic acid, 0.80 mg; biotin, 0.06 mg; selenium (sodium
selenite), 0.25 mg.
geometric standard deviation. In the period preceding 5
Butylated Hydroxytoluene (B.H.T. 98, Cargill, Inc.)
the use of pelleted diets and different feeding programs,
the birds were housed in an experimental house and
according to the recommendations of Rostagno et al.
(2011); all groups received the same starter mash diet Where (2300) is the expected average weight (g) at
until 18 d of age. From this period on, the birds un- 35 d (Cobb, 2013), (AW35) is the average weight ob-
derwent a 2-day adaptation period to the experimental tained at 35 d, (3.200) is a factor (corresponding to 3.2
diets and then, from day 21 on, were submitted to the grams to change 1 point in feed conversion), and FCR35
different feeding programs until 35 d of age. At the be- is the FCR at 35 d.
ginning of the experiment, the birds’ average weight The CC was calculated by multiplying FI by the cal-
was 795 ± 38 g. All the feeders of the groups that re- culated ME, and the value divided by WG. Mortality
ceived the mash diet ad libitum were weighed daily. The was recorded daily.
daily intake of mash feed by the control group was used Diets were pelleted in a steam pellet mill (Koppers
to determine the amount of feed provided to the re- Junior C40, Koppers Company, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA,
stricted treatments (100, 95, 90, and 85%). At 21 and USA) with a 37 kW Siemens motor and a die with
35 d of age, all birds were weighed to determine weight 4.7 mm diameter holes and thickness of 50 mm. The
gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed conver- conditioning time was approximately 10 s at 75◦ C and
sion adjusted to 2.3 kg of live weight (AdjFCR) and under a pressure of 1.5 kg/cm2 (measured at the gauge).
caloric conversion (CC). As there was a large variation The pressure was measured using a manometer in the
in the average weight as a result of the different feeding steam inlet. In order to measure the conditioning time,
programs, the AdjFC was calculated in order to stan- a powder color dye was used as tracer into the con-
dardize the weight using the following equation: ditioner, and then measuring time until the material
exited the conditioner. After pelleting, the diets were
dried and cooled to an average temperature of 37◦ C. At
AdjF CR = ((2300 − AW 35) /3.200) + F CR35 the end of the process, samples of each treatment were
 FEEDING PROGRAMS AND PELLETING FOR BROILERS
collected for physical-chemical analyses. There was no
difference in the processing parameters between the pel-
leted treatments. The only difference was the amount
of feed provided to the birds daily. The pelleted feed
was manufactured in one batch, and the experimen-
tal feed was only separated when the pellet mill was
stabilized.
The Pellet Durability Index (PDI), or the percent-
age of unbroken pellets, was assessed using a PDI de-
termination device, which consisted of 5 rotating boxes
(30 cm in height; 12.5 × 12.5-cm base). Approximately
150 g of the pellets retained in a sieve (4.0-mm sieve,
Telastem Peneiras para Análises LTDA) was tested in
the boxes that composed the PDI determination de-
vice at 50 rotations per minute for 10 min. Next, the
samples were sieved (4.0-mm sieve) for approximately
30 s to remove the fines and the broken pellets. The
PDI was expressed as a percentage. Hardness was mea-
sured in a hardness tester (Nova Ética R
, model 298
DGP—Ethiktechnology, São Paulo, Brazil) using indi-
vidual pellets (20 pellets). The pelleted diet had an
80.6% PDI and 4.0 kgf/cm2 hardness.
Carcass and Cuts Yield
On the 35th d of the rearing period, 60 birds (10 birds
per treatment) were euthanized, scalded and feathers,
head, viscera, and feet were removed. After eviscera-
tion, the carcasses were washed and placed in a cool-
ing tank during 60 min at 2◦ C. The carcass, breast,
thigh and drumstick, and fat were weighed for the yield
calculations.
Digestibility
On the 35th d, 2 birds per experimental unit (a
total of 96 birds) were euthanized, the ileal content
collected for the digestibility analyses. The birds were
eviscerated and the ileum separated to remove its con-
tents, the ileal fraction being defined as 4 cm below the
Meckel’s diverticulum and 4 cm above the ileum-cecum-
colon junction. The collected ileal content was homoge-
nized, frozen and freeze-dried (Modulyo D Freeze-dryer,
Thermo Electron Corporation, Waltham, MA, USA) up
to a 5 × 10−2 mbar vacuum pressure.
Feed and ileal content samples were ground to 1 mm
to determine the dry matter (DM) content by oven
drying at 105◦ C for 12 h and the crude protein (CP;
method 954.01) according to AOAC (1995). Gross
energy was determined in a calorimetric bomb (Ika
Werke C2000 Control Oxygen Bomb Calorimeter—Ika-
Werke GmbH&Co, Staufen, Germany). Acid-insoluble
ash (AIA) was used as an indigestible marker com-
pound for the digestibility calculations, and determined
according to the method described by Van Keulen and
Young (1977).
Coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID)
of nutrients was calculated using the following
5499
formula:
C AID of diet nutrient =
(N utrient in the diet ) − (N utrient in the ileal digesta × IF )
N utrient in the diet
Where (IF) is the ratio between the diet AIA and the
ileal content AIA.
The ileal digestible energy (IDE) was calculated
according to the equation below:
IDE (kcal/kg DM ) = GE in the diet
− (GE in ileal content × F I )
Experimental Design and Statistical
Analysis
The experimental design was completely randomized
with six treatments and eight replicates of 16 birds each.
The treatments were the different diet processing types
(mash or pelleted) and according to the feeding pro-
gram that was used: pelleted feed ad libitum, pelleted
feed equalized with mash diet ad libitum (100%) or re-
stricted at 95, 90, or 85% of the amount consumed
by the group that was fed the mash diet ad libitum
(P100, P95, P90, and P85).
The data were first tested for normality (Shapiro-
Wilk’s test) and then submitted to ANOVA using the
General Linear Models procedure of the SAS statistical
software (version 9.0, SAS, Cary, NC, USA). The fol-
lowing model was chosen: Yij = μ + Ti + εij , where Yij
is an observation of unit j in treatment i, μ is the over-
all mean, Ti is the effect of dietary treatment and εij is
the random error. Means were compared by Dunnett’s
test at 5% probability, using the mash diet as control.
Regression analyses were also performed to determine
the correspondence between performance, carcass yield
and digestibility variables and the different feeding pro-
grams (P100, P95, P90, and P85). The linear regression
model was expressed as Y = β 0 + β 1 x + ε, where: Y is
the response variable, x is the feeding programs (P100,
P95, P90, and P85); β 0 , β 1 are regression parameters
and ε is the random error. Quadratic polynomial re-
gression was also performed and the model expressed as
Yi = β 0 + β 1 xi + β 2 x2 i + εi where Yi is the response
variable, x is the feeding program, β 0 is the intercept,
β 1 and β 2 are the linear and second degree coefficients,
respectively.
RESULTS
Performance
Pelleted diets provided ad libitum resulted in higher
FI and WG (P < 0.001), and better FCR, AdjFCR,
and CC (P < 0.001) when compared to the control
treatment (Table 2). When the pelleted diet was
5500 MASSUQUETTO ET AL.

Table 2. Effect of different feeding programs and pelleting (P) on feed intake (FI), weight
gain (WG), feed conversion (FCR), adjusted feed conversion (AdjFCR), and caloric conver-
sion (CC) of broilers at 21 to 35 d of age.

Treatments1 FI (g) WG (g) FCR (g/g) AdjFCR (g/g) CC (kcal/g)

∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
Pelleted ad libitum 2108 1447 1442 1457 4525∗
Mash ad libitum (control) 1902 1240 1532 1620 4708
P100 1900 1231 1545 1626 4788
P95 1805∗ 1191∗ 1516 1618 4699
P90 1710∗ 1132∗ 1510 1627 4682
P85 1615∗ 1067∗ 1511 1656 4685
SEM 24.258 19.153 0.007 0.012 16.923
P-value < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001
Linear P-value < 0.0012 0.100 0.733 0.097
Quadratic P-value 0.282 0.431 0.381 0.424
SEM = Standard error of the mean.
∗
Indicates difference from the control (P < 0.05) by Dunnett’s test.
1
Mash ad libitum (control), pelleted ad libitum, pelleted supplied in the same amount as the control
(P100) or restricted to 95, 90, and 85% of amount consumed by control (P95, P90, and P85).
2
Linear effect for the different feeding programs (P < 0.0001), Y = 0.0112x + 0.1241; R2 = 0.9266.

provided in an amount equalized to that of the mash DISCUSSION

intake, there were no differences in any of the per-
formance parameters that were evaluated (P > 0.05).
The birds had a lower WG (P < 0.001) when the pel-
leted diet amounts were reduced (P95, P90, and P85).
When only the pelleted diets were evaluated (P100,
P95, P90, and P85), there was a linear reduction for
WG (P < 0001) when the amount of feed provided was
reduced, but there was no difference in FCR and CC
(P > 0.05). It is important to stress that FI was linear
(R2 = 1), as the amount of pelleted feed provided was
proportional to 100, 95, 90, and 85% of the mash feed
intake.
Carcass Yield
In the carcass evaluation, the pelleted diet provided
ad libitum resulted in higher abdominal fat amount
when compared to the control (P < 0.01). However,
there was no difference in carcass and cuts yield
(P > 0.05; Table 3). The feeding programs did
not affect the breast and thigh and drumstick yield
nor the amount of abdominal fat (P > 0.05). Diet
P85 reduced carcass yield when compared to control
(P < 0.05).
Digestibility
There were no differences between the pelleted diet
provided ad libitum or P100 and the control in any
digestibility parameters (P > 0.05; Table 4). Feed in-
take reduction resulted in better digestibility, and di-
ets P90 and P85 had higher CAID of DM, CP, and
IDE than control (P < 0.001). The CP digestibility and
IDE had a linear increase as FI was reduced in P100,
P95, P90, and P85. The CAID of DM had a quadratic
behavior.
This study emphasizes the importance of the FI in-
crease provided by modifying the physical form of the
diet and its effect on broilers WG. Birds fed the pel-
leted diet ad libitum had a higher FI (11%) than those
fed the mash diet ad libitum, resulting in a 17% higher
WG, a 6% improvement in FCR and a 183 kcal reduc-
tion in CC. By adjusting FCR to a 2.3 kg weight, there
was an 11% increase when compared to the mash feed.
It is generally accepted that pelleting increases FI and
WG (Nir et al., 1994; Dozier el al., 2010; Abdollahi
et al., 2013; Mingbin et al., 2015; Massuquetto et al.,
2018) when compared to the mash diet. Calet (1965)
and Meinerz et al. (2001) reported that the major ef-
fect of pelleting is to increase feed intake. However, it is
important to stress that the 11% increase in FI reported
in the present study was possible because the pelleted
diets had good physical quality (PDI above 80%). As
demonstrated by Mckinney and Teeter (2004), supply-
ing diets with a higher amount of fines resulted in less
resting frequency and effective CC, demonstrating that
diets with low physical quality can influence birds feed
intake.
When feed intake was equalized between mash and
pelleted diets (P100), there was no difference in WG
and FCR. These results demonstrate that FI has a
higher effect on growth than the factors related to modi-
fications in nutrient bioavailability provided by thermal
processing. If the pelleting process effectively improved
nutrient digestibility, WG would have been higher in
the pelleted diet even with intake equal to that of the
mash diet. However, pelleting did not affect DM, CP,
and IDE digestibility, which can explain the similar WG
and FCR.
On the other hand, when the pelleted diet amount
was reduced to 95, 90, and 85% of the control, WG
was reduced but FCR and CC were not affected. Teeter
and Smith (1985) claim that FI is correlated (R2 =
0.87) with growth rate, and when they evaluated the
 FEEDING PROGRAMS AND PELLETING FOR BROILERS 5501
Table 3. Effect of different feeding programs and pelleting (P) on carcass, breast and
thigh + drumstick yield and amount of abdominal fat (%) of broilers at 35 d of age.

Treatment1 Carcass Breast Thigh+drumstick Fat

Pelleted ad libitum 78.02 35.68 28.00 1.82∗

Mash ad libitum (control) 77.93 34.79 28.44 1.12
P100 76.49 34.61 28.54 1.13
P95 76.52 35.20 27.74 1.13
P90 75.86 35.21 28.60 1.12
P85 75.74∗ 34.91 28.65 0.95
SEM 0.264 0.207 0.146 0.059
P-value 0.027 0.733 0.406 < 0.001
Linear P-value 0.999 0.879 0.513 0.989
Quadratic P-value 0.533 0.994 0.582 0.852
SEM = Standard error of the mean.
∗
Indicates difference from the control (P < 0.05) by Dunnett’s test.
1
Mash ad libitum (control), pelleted ad libitum, pelleted supplied in the same amount as the
control (P100) or restricted to 95, 90, and 85% of amount consumed by control (P95, P90, and
P85).

Table 4. Coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) of dry matter (DM), crude protein
(CP), and ileal digestible energy (IDE; kcal/kg) in broilers at 35 d of age submitted to
different feeding programs.

Treatment1 CAID of DM (%) CAID of CP (%) IDE (kcal/kg)

Pelleted ad libitum 74.45 80.63 3481

Mash ad libitum (control) 72.94 81.77 3495
P100 72.98 81.80 3596
P95 72.34 81.67 3562
P90 76.21∗ 86.28∗ 3738∗
P85 77.81∗ 88.16∗ 3772∗
SEM 0.430 0.660 27.443
P-value < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001
Linear P-value < 0.001 < 0.0013 < 0.0014
Quadratic P-value 0.0142 0.157 0.073
SEM = Standard error of the mean.
∗
Indicates difference from the control (P < 0.05) by Dunnett’s test.
1
Mash ad libitum (control), pelleted ad libitum, pelleted supplied in the same amount as the control
(P100) or restricted to 95, 90, and 85% of amount consumed by control (P95, P90, and P85).
2
Y = 0.0219x2 –4.4192x + 295.95; R2 = 0.6165.
3
Y = −0.4855x + 129.27; R2 = 0.5328.
4
Y = −14.678x + 5021.1; R2 = 0.4997.

75% restriction in relation to ad libitum, they report a
similar reduction in WG and FCR.
The FI reduction to 85% of the mash diet ad libi-
tum resulted in animals with lower carcass yield. Teeter
and Smith (1985) and Boostani et al. (2010) also found
lower carcass yield in broilers under feed restriction. It
is suggested that when the feed amount is limited, ani-
mals use the energy intake for maintenance, with little
energy left for growth. As in the study of Saleh et al.
(2005), feed restriction did not affect breast, thigh and
drumstick, and fat yield.
Birds fed pelleted diet ad libitum had a higher per-
centage of abdominal fat, possibly resulting from the
higher FI. The birds’ excessive energy intake was de-
posited as abdominal fat. Several authors have also re-
ported a higher percentage of abdominal fat in broilers
consuming pelleted diets (Plavnik et al., 1997; Maiorka
et al., 2005; Corzo el al., 2011). When the birds were
force fed at 160% of the consumption of the ad libi-
tum treatment, Teeter and Smith reported that the
birds had 3 times more abdominal fat. The pelleted diet
provided ad libitum, however, did not improve carcass
and cuts yield. The results are the opposite of those
obtained by Dozier et al. (2010), as they reported a
higher weight and carcass and breast yield in broilers
fed pelleted diets when compared to mash diets.
Pelleting can improve the nutrient digestibility
as a result of exposure to moisture, pressure, and
temperature used in this process. This improvement is
mainly justified by starch gelatinization (Skoch et al.,
1981; Moritz et al., 2002; Svihus et al., 2004; Abdollahi
et al., 2010; Zhu et al., 2016), and by rupture of the
disulfide bridges in the protein structures, causing its
denaturation and facilitating the action of enzymes
(Scott et al., 1997). However, several studies have
shown that pelleting has little effect on nutrients avail-
ability, while more intensive processes as expansion and
extrusion lead to more structural modifications in the
ingredients (Svihus et al., 2005; Zimonja et al., 2008).
When the amount of pelleted diet provided was the
same as the mash diet, that is, the consumption factor
was isolated; there were no differences in digestibility
5502 MASSUQUETTO ET AL.
parameters, demonstrating that the pelleting process
may not be sufficient to modify the fractions of
ingredients.
Moreover, FI has a direct influence on the digestibil-
ity coefficients. In the evaluation of different energy
levels in pelleted diets, Massuquetto (2018) found a re-
duction in the digestibility of DM, CP, GE, and starch
when compared to broilers fed mash diets. The author
used diets with high PDI (above 90%) as part of the
oil was added after pelleting which favored intake even
further. It should be emphasized that, although the diet
nutrient digestibility is often lower in pelleted diets, the
utilization of nutrients in the total period can be pro-
portionally higher when the increase in pelleted feed
intake is considered.
The FI restriction resulted in higher nutrient di-
gestibility. Scott and Silversides (2003) demonstrated
that feed restriction decreases the digesta passage rate
in the gut so the digestibility is increased. Teeter and
Smith (1985) reported an increase in the digestibility of
DM, CP, fat, and starch when FI is restricted to 75% of
ad libitum. The authors also evaluated the FI increase
by forced feeding and found a marked decrease in the
digestibility of all feed fractions that were evaluated,
while FI increased to 125, 140, and 160% of ad libitum.
Svihus (2006, 2011) showed a negative correlation be-
tween FI and starch digestibility and AME value. The
higher FI can increase the digesta passage rate in the
gastrointestinal tract, reducing the time of exposure to
action of enzymes and nutrients absorption in the gut
mucosa, which can explain the higher CAID of DM,
CP, and IDE observed in the treatments restricted to
90 and 85% of the control.
The results obtained indicate that increase in feed
intake is one of the most important factors for
pelleting promoting better performance. The pelleted
diets provided ad libitum increase the amount of ab-
dominal fat and do not affect the nutrient digestibility.
The feed intake restriction results in lower WG and
lower carcass yield, but improves nutrient digestibility
in broilers.
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