Nutritional effects of expansion and short time extrusion on feeds for broilers

The effect of short time extrusion or expansion on digestibility and energy of feeds and grains was determined in 18–21 day old broiler chicks. Untreated corn-based feed or wheat or barley were compared with the same material treated by expansion or extrusion, and milled to equal size using three replicate groups of 10 birds for each dietary treatment. ion of whole feeds enhanced GE digestion and increased the AME and AMEn by 1.5 and 3.5% (P < 0.05). Extrusion or expansion of wheat or barley and their addition to basal diets increased AME and AMEn of the diets by 1.5–2.5% (P < 0.05). Barley was less well digested than wheat. High temperature short time extrusion and expansion processes appear to enhance energy of common feeds for broilers.