Effects of Dietary Brown Rice and Sake Lees on the Growth Performance and Color of Meat in Broiler Chicks

In this study, we examined whether brown rice and sake lees (domestic feed ingredients) could replace corn and soybean meal (major imported feed ingredients) in broiler chick feed. In Experiment 1, 21-day-old broiler chicks were assigned to two groups and fed a corn-soybean- or a brown rice-soybean-based diet for three weeks (3 birds × 4 replicates/group). Dietary brown rice significantly improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Brown rice feeding also significantly increased L* (lightness) in the thigh and significantly decreased a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) in the thigh and b* in the fat. In Experiment 2, 21-day-old broiler chicks were assigned to three groups and fed either a corn-soybean-based diet for 3 weeks, a corn-soybean-based diet for the first 2 weeks followed by a brown rice sake lees-based diet for the last week, or a brown rice sake lees-based diet for 3 weeks (3 birds × 4 replicates/group). Replacement of the imported feed ingredients significantly improved the feed conversion ratio. The a* values for the breast, thigh, and fat, and the b* values for the thigh and fat were significantly decreased by rice and sake lees feeding for 3 weeks. The a* values for the breasts and fat were significantly decreased by rice and sake lees feeding for 1 week. These results suggest that brown rice and sake lees can be used as replacements for imported feed ingredients such as corn and soybean meal in broiler chicks without detrimental effects on growth performance. These domestic feed ingredients may benefit local production and consumption of poultry in Japan.