Malted sorghum as a maize substitute in broiler diets: effect on feed utilisation, growth performance and haemo-biochemical parameters

Sorghum is amongst the most drought-tolerant cereals in the driest rain-fed regions of the tropics and its utilisation in sustainable poultry production is limited by presence of phytochemicals. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of malting dietary sorghum on growth performance and haemo-biochemical parameters of Ross 308 broiler chickens. A total of 150 unsexed, 2 weeks-old chicks were evenly distributed into 15 replicated pens which were randomly allocated into three experimental diets and fed in two phase feeding. Three diets were formulated by completely replacing maize grain in commercial grower and finisher diets (CON) with red malted sorghum (RSD) and white malted sorghum (WSD). Broilers fed CON and WSD diets gained more weight compared to those fed RSD in week 3 and 5. The lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed in CON in week 4 and 6. The protein efficiency ratio was the lowest with broilers fed malted sorghum-based diets (MSD) through out the study. Protein intake was the highest in broilers fed WSD in week 3 and 5, but lowest in week 4 and 5 in broilers fed RSD. Diets affected white blood cells basophils, corpuscular (volume and haemoglobin), corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, creatinine, bilirubin, and enzymes (GTP and GOT). Overall, the results from the present study suggest that maize grains can be replaced with malted white sorghum grains in poultry diets, without any adverse effects on the birds' growth performance and general health status. Malting sorghum reduces its phenolic compounds, tannins, and flavonoids that hinder its efficient utilisation in monogastric animal diets.Inclusion of malted sorghum to broiler diets did not affect weight gain.Biochemical blood parameters of broilers fed malted sorghum-based diets were within normal range of poultry