Date of Award
8-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Committee Chair/Advisor
Mireille Argüelles-Ramos
Committee Member
William Bridges
Committee Member
Robert Buresh
Committee Member
Michael Blair
Committee Member
Richard Boyles
Abstract
Given the rising cost of poultry diets, alternative ingredients like sorghum are crucial for maximizing returns without compromising product quality. Sorghum's drought tolerance and adaptability, along with its nutritional profile, make it a viable corn substitute. This dissertation examines the nutrient composition, amino acid digestibility, and performance of poultry fed with American tannin-free grain sorghum. Chapter II evaluates the impact of sorghum-based diets, with or without phytase superdosing, on broiler performance, including body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Results indicate that sorghum can replace corn without adverse effects on broiler performance. Chapter III explores the partial inclusion of U.S. tannin-free sorghum in pullet diets, showing no negative impact on performance. Chapter IV estimates the standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAD) of sorghum samples from the Southeastern USA, revealing a high similarity nutritional composition with a slightly higher crude protein and lower crude fat content compared to corn. Amino acid digestibility in sorghum varies, with some being more digestible than in corn. Chapter V investigates the influence of environmental and agronomic factors on sorghum nutrient composition and digestibility. Although establishing direct causality is challenging, findings suggest that genotype and environmental conditions impact nutrient composition. This research highlights the potential of sorghum as a high-quality poultry feed and paves the way for developing predictive models for grain digestibility and optimizing crop management strategies.
Recommended Citation
Sasia, Santiago, "Assessment of American Tannin-Free Grain Sorghum as Feedstuff for Poultry: Nutrient Composition, Amino Acid Digestibility and Bird Performance" (2024). All Dissertations. 3758.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/3758
Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7445-592X
Included in
Agricultural Economics Commons, Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Animal Experimentation and Research Commons, Food Chemistry Commons, Other Nutrition Commons, Poultry or Avian Science Commons, Veterinary Physiology Commons