Composition and availability of nutrients of three corn hybrids dried at different temperatures in the diets of broiler chickens

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) content, in vitro digestibility of starch, apparent metabolizable energy (AME), nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn), and apparent and apparent nitrogen-corrected coefficient of metabolizable energy (ACME and ACMEn) of three corn hybrids dried at different temperatures in the diets of broiler chickens. The energetic values were determined by the total collection of excreta method, using broilers from 11 to 21 d, placed in a completely randomized design in a factorial scheme (three corn hybrids and two drying temperatures: 80 and 110 °C), totalizing six treatments, seven replicates, and four birds/replicate. The data were subjected to two-way ANOVA. There was an interaction between the two factors tested wherein the AME and AMEn were increased when using corn Hybrid 1 dried at 80 °C. As main effects, the use of corn Hybrid 3 increased ACME and ACMEn. The drying temperature of 110 °C increased amylose, resistant starch, and nitrogen bound to the fiber contents, and reduced soluble:total NSP ratio. These changes may be responsible for the differences in digestibility of nutrients. The mean values of AME and AMEn of corn dried at 80 and 110 °C were 14.03 and 13.84 MJ/kg, respectively, and 81.62 and 80.53% for ACME and ACMEn, respectively.