Broiler chickens can be fed 40% or more of their diet as wheat screenings. That is the conclusion of new research conducted by William Audren, Hank Classen and Vern Racz at the University of Saskatchewan. These researchers recently tested two samples of No. 1 wheat screenings purchased from inland grain terminals. The samples contained 89% to 90% wheat, with wild buckwheat the next largest constituent of the samples (4% to 6%). The screenings contained appreciably more than the 65% to 85% wheat found in some older studies on wheat screenings. The wheat screenings had protein, amino acid, and energy levels similar or better than expected for wheat on the Prairies. The nutritional composition of the two wheat screening samples can be viewed in Table 1.
 

A broiler performance trial was conducted by feeding female broiler chickens different amounts of these two samples of screenings from hatch to 36 days of age. Each sample of screenings was tested at 0%, 25% and 50% of the diet and the screenings were added to the diet by replacing an identical weight of wheat. One of the samples of screenings (Sample 1) was also fed by replacing all of the wheat in the diet (68% in starter and 75% in grower). Due to space limitations in the research facility, only one of the samples of screenings could be incorporated into the trial at such high levels.

Compared to the control diets, feeding 25%, 50% or more wheat screenings had no significant effect on body weight, feed efficiency or mortality from 0 to 36 days of age (Table 2). Mortality was significantly lower for birds fed Sample 2 screenings but mortality for all treatments was low and the effect of screening sample was not considered meaningful. Even when all of the wheat in the diet was replaced with wheat screenings, bird performance was similar to birds fed no screenings.

While high levels of screenings were successfully fed, the researchers made the recommendation that 40% wheat screenings could be generally fed to broilers. Feed mills that monitor the wheat and nutritional content of their screenings may be able to feed higher levels. Since wheat screenings may vary in quality, higher levels of screenings do pose extra risk. Also, old reports that wild buckwheat in screenings may leave black flecks on broiler carcasses during processing need to be considered. If screenings contain high levels of buckwheat, it may be necessary to reduce or remove the screenings from the finisher diet.