Effect of dietary coarse corn inclusion on broiler live performance, litter characteristics, and ammonia emission

Ammonia (NH₃) emission from nondigested nutrients in poultry creates additional adverse environmental impacts on soil, water, air, and health. Mitigating NH₃ emission has become vital for the poultry industry to remain sustainable. As the presence of large particles in the feed stimulates the broiler gizzard to retain ingesta in the gastrointestinal tract longer and improve digestive efficiency, the inclusion of large particles in feed may lead to less nitrogen (N) and moisture content (MC) in feces such that lower NH₃ production would be expected. This chamber study investigated the effects of dietary coarse corn (CC) inclusion on broiler live performance, litter characteristics, and NH₃ emission. One hundred eighty female broilers (Ross 344 × 708 strains) at day 21 were randomly placed in 6 chambers with 2 dietary treatments (0% CC and 50% CC), with 3 chambers per treatment and 30 birds per chamber for 3 wks. The results showed that the 50% CC inclusion (1) decreased broiler feed intake and BW without affecting mortality-adjusted feed conversion ratio from day 21 to 42; (2) increased gizzard weight and decreased proventriculus weight; (3) decreased N content and MC in litter; and (4) decreased NH₃ concentrations in the chambers, as well as NH₃ emission from the chambers. Dietary CC inclusion could be an effective way to mitigate broiler litter N content and MC as well as NH₃ emission.