Commercial broilers are fed exclusively pelleted diets; this is due to research that has demonstrated numerous benefits to feeding pellets. The first objective was to investigate the effects of modest improvements in pellet quality on two modern broiler strains. Regardless of strain, feeding 80% pellets improved broiler performance from d 28 to 42. The second objective was to investigate the effects of feed form and liquid application method on feed augering segregation and subsequent broiler performance. In general, percent pellets steadily decreased across location throughout feed augering. Also, phytase segregation occurred throughout augering and was exacerbated in post-pellet liquid application diets. When the augered diets were fed to broilers, 75% pellets and post-pellet liquid application diets improved performance. The final objective was to investigate the change in percent pellets as feed was augered throughout an entire commercial poultry house. Ultimately, creating high-quality pellets decreases pellet attrition and improves broiler performance.

The objectives of these experiments were to evaluate the effects of selenium (Se) and vitamin E (Vit.E) supplementation in maternal and progeny diets on the performance of breeder hens and the performance and meat quality characteristics of progeny. Inclusion of Se, as Se yeast, in the diets of developing broiler breeder pullets resulted in greater Se accumulation of Se (P<0.01) in liver, pancreas, and breast tissues than when Se yeast was not provided. Improving the overall Se status of breeder pullets in the early stages may help maintain adequate tissue Se concentrations during egg production. Maternal supplementation of Se yeast and Vit.E increased the liver and breast Se concentration (P<0.05) of newly hatched chicks compared to the chicks originating from hens not receiving dietary Se. At 7d of age, Se yeast supplementation in either the chick or maternal diet increased breast and liver Se concentrations (P<0.01). At 14d of age, breast and liver Se concentrations remained the highest for chicks supplemented with Se yeast (P<0.01), however there was no effect of maternal Se supplementation. Vitamin E supplementation in either the chick or maternal diets did not affect the liver Vit.E concentrations of chicks at 7 or 14d of age. Supplementing broiler diets with Se yeast and Vit.E improved the meat quality characteristics of raw and marinated breast fillets. The Se content of breast meat from broilers fed Se yeast was higher (P<0.01) than those from broilers that were not fed Se yeast. Antioxidant supplementation improved the drip loss (P<0.05) and oxidative stability (P<0.10) of raw breast fillets after 7d of refrigerated storage. Marination appeared to increase the susceptibility for lipid oxidation of the marinated breast fillets. Dietary supplementation of Se yeast and Vit.E reduced lipid oxidation (P<0.01) of marinated breast fillets after prolonged refrigerated storage, thus improving oxidative stability. Overall, dietary supplementation of Se yeast can increase the accumulation of Se in the tissues of broiler breeder hens and their subsequent progeny. Improvements in the avian antioxidant system may have beneficial effects on the performance of broiler breeder hens, broilers, and the meat quality characteristics of broiler breast fillets.

Necrotic enteritis in poultry is caused by Clostridium perfringens type A, and is estimated to cost the worldwide poultry industry approximately $2 billion dollars a year, due to increased mortality and decreased feed conversion and weight gain. Very little is known about the pathogenesis of this disease due to the lack of a consistently reproducible experimental model. This dissertation outlines the development of an effective and consistent experimental model for necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. It was also found that in vivo passage through the chicken's intestinal tract let to increased virulence; we increased the proportion of birds developing disease from 34.6% to 81.4%. Researchers have proposed that alpha toxin (CPA) is believed to be the critical virulence factor of the disease. All type A isolates have the potential to produce CPA, thus we challenged birds with numerous type A isolates that are virulent in other animal hosts. However, we found that they did not produce necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. In addition, challenge with culture supernatant alone failed to produce gross lesions in the birds, although challenging with washed whole cell cultures did do so. Vaccinating birds with HIS-tagged recombinant CPA provided partial protection against disease; there was a 42.0% decrease in lesion development. The conclusion of this doctoral research is that CPA does have a role in the pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens, but there are apparently other critical virulence factors involved in the development of disease.

The use of antibiotic growth promoters has been limited all around the world because of the concerns about antibiotic resistant bacteria and the presence of antibiotic residues in poultry products. Yeast-derived products are rich sources of ß1,3-1,6-glucan, mannan polysaccharides, and nucleotides and are considered as possible antibiotic alternatives due to their potential intestinal health benefits, growth promotion, and immune system stimulation. The objectives of the current research were: (1) to the evaluate effect of yeast products derived from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance, gut histomorphology, and innate immune response of broiler chickens; (2) to investigate the effect of yeast products, including distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), on innate and antibody-mediated immune response following immunization with different antigens; and (3) to examine the effect of yeast-derived products and DDGS on growth performance, incidence of necrotic enteritis (NE), and local innate immunity in broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens. Overall, supplementation of diets with yeast products did not affect growth performance of broilers. However, the diets containing yeast cell walls (YCW) and nucleotides increased the villus height in the jejunum and enhanced the number of goblet cells in the ileum. Inclusion of diets with yeast products did not activate the innate immune response of birds under non-pathogen challenge conditions. However, the diet containing YCW activated Th2 cell-mediated immune response in birds immunized with sheep red blood cells and bovine serum albumin. Furthermore, supplementation of diets with YCW and DDGS in birds challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, activated the systemic innate immune response. Regarding antibody-mediated immune response, when compared to the control, serum antibody titer and specific antibody response against different antigens were not affected by dietary treatments. In the C. perfringens challenge study, growth performance, NE lesions and C. perfringens counts in the intestine were not affected by yeast-derived products. However, diets containing YCW and nucleotides stimulated the local innate immune response of birds by upregulation of cytokines and receptors involved in innate immunity. Such findings suggest that the immune-adjuvant like properties of YCW and nucleotides activate the innate immunity of broiler chickens following immunization or challenge with different antigens. / October 2015

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / R. Scott Beyer / Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of gelatinized starch created during the pelleting process. Effects of gelatinization were first broadly tested to find if either increased or decreased gelatinization levels would increase broiler weight gain and feed efficiency during the starter period, 0 to 21 days of age. Results of the first experiment indicated a decrease (P<0.05) in broiler performance with increased levels of gelatinization, and a significant effect when the inclusion of gelatinized starch in the diet increased from 0 to 35%. A second experiment was conducted using a smaller range, 0 to 21% versus 0 to 35% inclusion of gelatinized starch in the diet and a smaller increment of increase, 3 versus 5%. Results of this experiment confirmed the results of the first experiment, and regression analysis was performed on the data. A linear decrease in body weight gain and quadratic increase in feed:gain (P<0.05) was observed as gelatinized starch was increased from 0 to 21% of the diet. A survey of the literature was conducted showing that most of the simulated levels of gelatinization were larger than those achieved with typical pelleted broiler diets. A third experiment was designed to investigate the levels of gelatinization observed in a pelleted diet and combined with three corn particle sizes, small (466 μm), medium (878 μm), and large (1240 μm), to find if any interactions existed. Chicks fed with the highest gelatinization level of 20%, (7.86% inclusion of pregelatinized starch) had lower body weight gains (P<0.05), and higher feed:gain (P<0.05) compared to chicks fed with 0% gelatinization. Small particle size had the lowest live body weight gain and lowest pen feed intake (P<0.05). There were no interactions found between gelatinization level and particle size (P>0.10). The results demonstrated a negative effect on chick body weight gain and feed efficiency by gelatinization of starch.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a utilização da levedura hidrolisada como fonte de nucleotídeos para frangos de corte. As aves foram suplementadas com diferentes níveis de inclusão nas dietas iniciais de 1 a 14 dias de idade. Foram utilizados um total de 576 pintos da linhagem Ross 708, os quais foram distribuídos em 6 tratamentos com 8 repetições (12 aves por box). Os tratamentos consistiram da inclusão de 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 e 10 kg de levedura hidrolisada/tonelada de ração. A levedura hidrolisada foi adicionada na dieta no lugar do material inerte da ração. A dieta inicial foi fornecida na forma triturada enquanto as dietas de crescimento, final e de retirada foram fornecidas na forma de pellets. Durante todo o experimento o acesso à água e ração foi ad libitum. Todas as dietas foram feitas à base de milho, farelo de soja e gordura de frango e foram formuladas para atender as exigências nutricionais recomendadas pelo manual de recomendações nutricionais Ross 708. Aos 42 dias, as aves alimentadas com 1% de levedura hidrolisada tiveram maior peso corporal e ganho de peso quando comparadas aos demais tratamentos (P<0,05). Não houveram diferenças estatísticas entre os tratamentos para as variáveis mortalidade e densidade de vilos. Contudo aves que não foram suplementadas com levedura hidrolisada (tratamento controle) apresentaram menor profundidade de cripta e a suplementação de 1% de levedura resultou em maior altura de vilos. Aves as quais receberam dietas com 0,2% de inclusão de levedura hidrolisada apresentaram menor rendimento de peito que as aves que receberam os demais níveis de levedura, mas foram iguais as aves do tratamento controle. Contudo, o rendimento de carcaça, sassami e gordura abdominal não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos experimentais. Estes resultados demostraram a eficácia da utilização de levedura hidrolisada na dieta de frangos de corte no período de 1 a 14 dias sobre as características de produção. / The objective of this work was to evaluate hydrolyzed yeast utilization as nucleotides source to broilers. Birds were supplemented with different inclusion levels on starter diets from 1 to 14 days of age. A total of five hundred seventy six Ross 708 chicks were allotted to 6 experimental treatments with 8 replications (12 broilers per pen). Birds were randomly distributed in following treatments: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 kg hydrolyzed yeast/ton of feed. Hydrolyzed yeast was added to the test diet in place of filler. Starter diets were supplied in crumbled form while grower, finisher, and withdrawal were supplied in pellet form. Throughout experiment water and feed were supplied ad libitum. All diets were based on corn, soybean meal and poultry fat, and were formulated to achieve nutritional requirements from recommendations guide for Ross x Ross 708 broilers. At 42 d chicks fed 1% hydrolyzed yeast demonstrated higher body weight and body weight gain over birds fed other treatments (P<0.05). Mortality and villous density did not differ among treatments. However birds fed control treatment showed lower crypt depth and 1% hydrolyzed yeast supplementation promoted higher villous high. Birds fed 0.2% hydrolyzed yeast showed lower breast meat yield than birds received other yeast levels, but were equals to control treatment control. However, carcass and tender yield, and abdominal fat were not influenced by treatments. These results indicated efficacy of hydrolyzed yeast utilization on broiler diets from 1 to 14 on production characteristics.

No presente trabalho foram realizadas análises de enterobactérias e Salmonella em cecos e papos de frangos de corte criados sem reaproveitamento de cama e com baixa densidade, submetidos a períodos de jejum de 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 e 18 horas; também foram feitas análises das mesmas bactérias, incluindo esporos de Bacillus subtilis e bactérias ácido lácticas em papos e cecos de frangos de corte alimentados com probióticos (bactérias lácticas, Bokashi e esporos de B. subtilis) e antibiótico (bacitracina de zinco) nas rações. Não houve diferença significativa entre as populações de enterobactérias nos períodos de jejum analisados, e não foram isoladas cepas de Salmonella nos diferentes tratamentos. Houve diminuição significativa na população de enterobactérias nos cecos em relação ao grupo controle quando os frangos foram alimentados com bactérias ácido lácticas nas rações. Com Bokashi e antibiótico nas rações, a população de enterobactérias nos cecos foi maior que no grupo controle. Nos papos, não houve diferença significativa entre as populações de enterobactérias para os diferentes tratamentos, mas o tratamento com Bokashi foi o que obteve menor população das enterobactérias nesse habitat. As contagens de bactérias ácido lácticas e esporos de B. subtilis dos cecos e papos analisados não sofreram alteração significativa devido aos diferentes aditivos presentes nas rações, quando comparadas ao grupo controle. Novamente não foram isoladas cepas de Salmonella nos cecos e papos dos frangos analisados. A ausência de Salmonella pode ter explicação no modo de criação dos frangos, com baixa densidade (12 aves/m2) e sem reaproveitamento de cama, pois foi um resultado encontrado nas duas fases do trabalho. A diminuição de enterobactérias nos cecos por parte das bactérias ácido lácticas administradas na ração pode ter sido devido à exclusão competitiva, apesar da população dessas bactérias não ter aumentado significativamente neste habitat. O tratamento com administração de Bokashi obteve menor contagem de enterobactérias no papo possivelmente devido ao fato de ser um produto fermentado, com pH baixo, que poderia agir prontamente no papo. A administração de esporos de B. subtilis não surtiu efeito nas populações das bactérias analisadas nos cecos e papos dos frangos de corte. / This study analyzed the population of enterobacteria and Salmonella in the crop and caeca of broiler chickens submitted to 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 hours of feed withdrawal, and raised without reutilization of the litter, in low density. The same bacteria were analyzed, plus Bacillus subtilis spores and lactic acid bacteria, in the crop and caeca of broiler chickens fed rations with probiotics (lactic acid bacteria, Bokashi and B. subtilis spores) and antibiotic (zinc bacitracin). There were no significant differences between enterobacteria populations on the analyzed withdrawal periods, and Salmonella and antibiotic (zinc bacitracin). There were no significant differences between enterobacteria populations on the analyzed withdrawal periods, and B. subtilis spores populations from the caeca and crops of analyzed broiler chickens did not differ from the control group when the different additives were fed through the ration. Again there were no Salmonella isolates in the analyzed crop and caeca. The absence of Salmonella may have an explanation on the way that chickens were raised, with low density (12 birds/m2) and no litter reutilization, because this result was found on the two phases of the study. The lower caeca enterobacteria population found when the broilers were fed lactic acid bacteria may have been due to competitive exclusion, even though the lactic acid bacteria counting did not increase significantly in this habitat. Treatment with Bokashi administration had lower counting of enterobactérias in the crop, possibly due to the fact that Bokashi is a fermented product, with low pH, that could act readily in the crop. The administration of B. subtilis spores did not have any effect on the populations of the analyzed bacteria, in the crop and caeca of broiler chickens.

Foi realizado um experimento no aviário experimental do Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), na Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA), em Pirassununga/SP com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de dois níveis vitamínicos (comercial e OVN) com ou sem aflatoxina em dietas de frangos de corte no período de 1 a 42 dias. Foram utilizados 1800 pintinhos, machos, Cobb 500, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 x 2 (2 níveis vitamínicos - comercial e OVN, 2 níveis de aflatoxina - 0 ppm e 0,5 ppm, e 2 níveis de adsorventes - 0 e 10 kg/ton), totalizando 8 tratamentos com 15 repetições de 15 aves cada. As dietas foram fornecidas fareladas e a base de milho e farelo de soja, formuladas segundo os níveis praticados por uma integradora da região. Para avaliar o desempenho foram analisados o consumo de ração, ganho de peso e conversão alimentar de 1 a 49 dias. Para avaliação de carcaça (rendimento de carcaça, peito e pernas), determinação de incidência de BBS e determinação do peso das vísceras abdominais e coração foram abatidas duas aves por repetição aos 45 dias. Os resultados mostraram que frangos de corte, machos, alimentados com nível OVN de vitaminas, apresentaram melhor ganho de peso, conversão alimentar, rendimento de carcaça e peito quando comparado com o nível comercial de vitaminas (P&lt;0,05) e que as dietas contendo 0,5 ppm de aflatoxinas resultaram em menor ganho de peso, rendimento de carcaça, porcentagem de peito e aumentou o tamanho do coração e fígado do animal (P&lt;0,05). O uso de 10kg/ton de adsorvente só apresentou resultado positivo no final da vida dos animais (dos 39 a 49 dias) (P&lt;0,05) e somente na conversão alimentar. Esse estudo permite concluir que a aflatoxina resulta em perdas de desempenho e rendimento de carcaças e que o fornecimento de níveis ótimos de vitaminas melhora os resultados dessas características. O uso de adsorventes se mostrou inviável nesse estudo. / An experiment was conducted in an experimental aviary the Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA) in Pirassununga/SP, to evaluate the performance, carcass characteristics and weight of offal in broiler chickens fed with two levels of vitamins (commercial and VNO) with or without aflatoxin in broiler diets. Were used 1800 chicks, male, Cobb 500 distributed in a completely randomized 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (two vitamin levels, two levels of aflatoxin and two levels of adsorbents), totaling eight treatments with 15 replicates of 15 birds each. Diets were fed mash and corn and soybean meal, formulated according to the levels charged by an integrator in the region. To evaluate the performance were analyzed feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion from 1 to 49 days. For evaluation of carcass yield (carcass, breast and legs), determination of the incidence of BBS and determination of the weight of the abdominal viscera and heart were killed two birds per replicate at 45 days. The results showed that broilers, males fed VNO level of vitamins showed better weight gain, feed conversion, carcass yield and breast when compared to the commercial level of vitamins (P&lt;0.05) and that diets intoxicated with 0.5 ppm of aflatoxin resulted in less weight gain, carcass yield, percentage of breast and increased the size of the heart and liver of the animal (P&lt;0.05). The use of adsorbent 10kg/ton only had a positive result at the end of life of animals (from 39 to 49 days) (P&lt;0.05) and only in the feed. This study indicates that aflatoxin results in loss of performance and carcass yield and the provision of optimal levels of vitamins improved the results of these characteristics. The use of adsorbents in this study proved to be unfeasible.

Foram utilizados 504 pintos de corte, machos, da linhagem Cobb, de 1 dia de idade, distribuídos aleatoriamente em 18 tratamentos com 4 repetições pelo período de 21 dias, para determinar a biodisponibilidade relativa do fósforo (BRP) em farelo de trigo, soja integral tostada ou extrusada com e sem a adição de fitase. Foram adicionados dois níveis de fitase (0 ou 750 FTU/kg dieta) e dois níveis de fósforo suplementar (0,05 ou 0,10%) à dieta basal semi-purificada com baixo nível de fósforo total (0,40%) sendo a fonte padrão de fósforo o fosfato bicálcico. Ao término do experimento, foram removidas as tíbias esquerdas e os dedos médios direitos para posterior análise de cinzas ósseas. A BRP para cada fonte orgânica foi calculada pelo método do “slope ratio" através da regressão dos valores de peso de cinzas na tíbia em função dos níveis de fósforo suplementar ingerido (mg/dia). Os valores de BRP para farelo de trigo, soja integral tostada e extrusada sem a adição de fitase foram de 74,4; 56,9 e 56,5%, respectivamente. Com a adição de fitase estes valores foram para 79,4; 93,5 e 100%, respectivamente. / Five hundred and four male Cobb chicks were used in a 21 day study to determine the relative bioavailability of phosphorus (RBP) in wheat midds, or soybean roasted or extruded with and without added microbial phytase (0 or 750 FYT/kg of diet).The reference standart was a purified grade calcium phosphate dibasics (DPS). The experimental ingredients, as well as the DPS, were added to the semi-purified starch-soybean meal control diet (22% protein; 0,32% P + 0,08% P from DPS) provinding 0,05 and 0,10% additional P, for a total of 9 experimental diets containing 0 FYT/kg, plus a second group of 9 diets containg 750 FYT/kg of diet. Slope ratio technique was used to calculate RBP, based on tibia bone ash weigt (TIAW) or toe bone ash weight (TOAW), regressed on added P intake within each P source. Coefficient of determination were higher to TIAW, so these values were used to express RBP. With no phytase added to the diet RBP values were 74,4 (wheat midds), 56,9 (soybean roasted) and 56,5% (soybean extruded), and the addition of 750 FYT/kg of diet increased these values to 79,4; 93,5 and 100%, respectively.

O sucesso da produção animal consiste em menores custos dos fatores de produção. A busca por fontes alternativas na alimentação de frangos de corte, que reduzam custos e mantenham a produtividade, é uma estratégia importante em períodos de crise do setor. Dessa forma, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de diferentes níveis de grãos de sorgo secos por destilação com solúveis em dietas para frangos de corte sobre as características zootécnicas de desempenho (ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, rendimento de carcaça e cortes), digestibilidade aparente, coloração da carne e viabilidade econômica da utilização do ingrediente. Foram realizados dois ensaios experimentais. No primeiro ensaio, 864 frangos de corte machos da linhagem Cobb, foram distribuídos em seis tratamentos, com 12 repetições de 12 aves cada, criados de 1 a 41 dias de idade para avaliação do desempenho. Aos 42 dias de idade, as aves foram abatidas e submetidas a avaliações da carcaça. No segundo ensaio experimental, 336 pintainhos foram distribuídos em seis tratamentos, com oito repetições de sete aves cada. Foi realizada a coleta de total de excretas de 16 a 19 dias de idade das aves e verificados os parâmetros de digestibilidade aparente. Os tratamentos experimentais atenderam as exigências de Rostagno et al. (2011), sendo isoprotéicas e isoenergéticas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em ambos ensaios experimentais, sendo 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 e 25% de inclusão de DDGS de sorgo nas dietas. As aves apresentaram menores ganhos de peso médio (p<0,0001) com inclusões de 20 e 25% de DDGS, respectivamente, em relação aos demais tratamentos, nas dietas pré-inicial, inicial, crescimento e durante o período total de criação (1 a 41 dias). O consumo médio de ração também foi menor (p<0,0001) pelas aves com o fornecimento do nível máximo (25% de DDGS de sorgo) nas fases inicial, crescimento e durante todo o período de criação. A conversão alimentar também foi pior (p<0,0001) nas fases pré-inicial, inicial e de 1 a 41 dias nas aves que consumiram dietas com 25% de DDGS de sorgo. Inclusões de 20 ou 25% de DDGS de sorgo nas dietas resultaram em menor (p<0,0001) rendimento de carcaça e rendimento de peito. As digestibilidades aparentes da matéria seca, do extrato etéreo e da energia não diferiram entre o fornecimento de dieta convencional ou com 5% de inclusão de DDGS de sorgo na dieta (p<0,0001). A digestibilidade aparente da proteína bruta e do fósforo não diferiram (p<0,0001) com o fornecimento de dieta convencional ou com até 10% de inclusão do DDGS de sorgo. A luminosidade foi menor (p<0,0001) com inclusão de 20 ou 25% de DDGS nas dietas em relação aos demais tratamentos. Já a intensidade da cor vermelha foi maior (p=0,0009) com o maior nível de inclusão de DDGS de sorgo. A margem bruta foi menor (p<0,0001) no período total de criação com inclusão de 20 e 25% de DDGS de sorgo nas dietas, respectivamente, em relação aos demais tratamentos. É viável a inclusão de até 15% de DDGS de sorgo em dietas para frangos de corte machos. / The success of animal production is based in its lower costs of production factors. The search for alternative sources in broilers diet wich reduce costs and maintain productivity, is an important strategy in times of industry recession. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels of sorghum dried distillers grains with solubles in broilers diets on the zootechnical performance features (weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, yield carcass and cuts), apparent digestibility, meat color and economic viability of the ingredient usage. Two experimental trials were performed. In the first trial, 864 Cobb male broilers, were distributed into six treatments, with 12 replicates of 12 birds each, raised from 1 to 41 days of age for performance evaluation. At 42 days of age, birds were slaughtered and submitted to carcass evaluations. In the second experimental trial, 336 chicks were distributed into six treatments with eight repetitions of seven chicks each. Total excreta was collected for 16-19 day old birds and checked the parameters of apparent digestibility. Experimental treatments met the requirements of Rostagno et al. (2011) and there were isoprotein and isoenergetic feed intakes. A completely randomized design was used in both experimental essays, with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% inclusion of sorghum DDGS in diets. The birds gained less average weight (p<0.0001) with inclusions of 20 and 25% sorghum DDGS in diets, respectively, compared to other treatments, in pre-starter, starter, grower and also during the total period of growing (1-41 days). Average feed intake was also lower (p<0.0001) for the supply of birds maximum level (25% sorghum DDGS) at initial, growth and throughout the rearing period. The feed conversion ratio was also worse (p<0.0001) in the pre-starter, starter phases and 1-41 days on the birds fed with 25% sorghum DDGS in diets. Inclusions of 20 or 25% sorghum DDGS in diets resulted in lower (p<0.0001) carcass yield and breast meat yield. Apparent digestibility of dry matter, ether extract and energy did not differ between the supply of conventional diet or 5% inclusion of sorghum DDGS in the diet (p<0.0001). Apparent digestibility of crude protein and phosphorus did not differ (p<0.0001) with providing conventional diet or with up to 10% inclusion of sorghum DDGS. The brightness was lower (p<0.0001) with the inclusion of 20 or 25% DDGS in the diets compared to other treatments. Already the red color intensity was higher (p=0.0009) with the highest level of inclusion of sorghum DDGS. Gross margin was lower (p<0.0001) in the total period including 20 and 25% sorghum DDGS in diets, respectively, compared to other treatments. It is recommended to include up to 15% sorghum DDGS in broilers diets.