EFFECT OF FORMALIN-TREATED WHEAT IN THE DIET ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GROWING CHICKS

Abstract

White Leghorn chicks were fed wheat that was stored under the influence of formalin, and wheat that was recently treated with formalin. Also, samples of each of the formalin-treated wheats were dried and fed to chicks during a four-week test period. Results showed that chicks fed the wheat which was stored under the influence of formalin had a similar rate of growth, feed intake and feed efficiency ratio as those fed the control diet. Dietary wheat recently treated with a high level of formalin resulted in a depression in growth and feed intake as well as poorer feed efficiency ratio. Drying either of the wheat samples after formalin treatment resulted in poor chick performance due to a decrease in feed intake.