The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the diet, with the inclusion of an energetic-protein nucleus (EPN) composed of highly digestible ingredients, on the productive performance and carcass traits of broiler chicks. The nucleus was composed by degummed soybean oil, pre-gelatinized corn, twice-processed soybean, mannanoligosaccharides and peptides. The total of 864 male AgRoss 508 broiler, with one day of age, were weighed individually and distributed in a randomized block design. Treatments consisted of: T1, control, 0% EPN; T2, 7% EPN (1-7 days) and 3.5% EPN (8-21 days); T3, 14% EPN (1-7 days) and 7% EPN (8-21 days); and T4, 21% EPN (1-7 days) and 10.5% EPN (8-21 days of age). At 21 days of age, body weight, weight gain, average feed intake, feed conversion and carcass and cut-ups yield were not significantly affected by treatments. The EPN inclusion in the diets did not influence the performance, carcass traits and cut-ups of broilers.
mannanoligosaccharides; pre-gelatinized corn; degummed soybean oil; peptides; twice-processed soybean
