Performance of poultry fed diets containing various wheat cultivars

Poultry diets are formulated according to the nutrient content of the ingredients of the diet. Nutrient content may vary widely between batches of a given ingredient. Wheat is one of the most variable ingredients in terms of energy and protein content. This variation is the result of differences between cultivars, soil properties, climatic conditions, agronomic practices such as the stage of harvest and storage conditions (Choct et al., 1999). This study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient composition of four cultivars of wheat grown in South Australia: Wyalkachem (Wyalka), Scythe, Frame and Durum. Proximate analyses were conducted and the replacement value of these grains against maize and the response to supplementation with a microbial enzyme, Avizyme 1302 (predominantly xylanase), was determined.