Determination of prediction equations of 16 Iranian wheat cultivars with two methods and at two different ages in broilers

In order to determine the prediction equations for apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) of Iranian wheat, this experiment was conducted at two different ages of broiler chicks in 2014. At first, chemical composition including dry matter, ash, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract of 16 widely used Iranian wheat cultivars were measured in the laboratory. To measure AMEn content of these cultivars at 10 and 24 days, 6 and 4 mixed sex ROSS 308 broilers per each treatment were used respectively. At these ages, the samples from the excreta and the contents of ileum were collected. Afterwards multiple regression equations for predicting wheat AMEn content were determined by SPSS software and stepwise method. The results showed that the AMEn estimation equations were determined by sampling of excreta at two ages of 10 and 24 days, respectively, in the form of AMEn = 37.855 × NFE and AMEn = 43.494 × NFE and ileum content was determined as AMEn = 41.173 × NFE and AMEn = 42.224 × NFE, respectively. Thus, using theses equations is recommended at the time of diet formulation for grower and finisher phases of broiler chicken.