Unlike corn, the traditional staple grain for chickens, wheat has some additional properties that require attention when formulating, producing and handling feeds containing more than 30% of this grain. The following discussion is intended to highlight these nuances that a nutritionist must address after examining the wheat in question.

  1. Wheat increases intestinal viscosity

Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), which are abundant in wheat, increase intestinal viscosity. Pentosans (arabinan and xylan), in particular, can absorb 5 to 10 times their weight in water. Assuming that an average mass of wheat contains about 5% NSP, this means that a diet containing 30% wheat would be able to absorb and retain up to 15% additional water. This can negatively impact litter quality and nutrient digestibility. To this end, it may be beneficial to consider using an enzyme to destroy unwanted NSP moieties. However, finding an enzyme that actually does what it claims to do seems to be more difficult than it should be.

  1. Protein in wheat varies greatly

Generally speaking, wheat contains more protein than corn, and hard wheat contains more protein than soft wheat. In practice, however, the actual concentration of wheat may vary widely. In extreme cases, wheat protein concentration may vary by 100% from the average given in the book. Not only do growing conditions (weather, soil, fertilization) affect protein levels, but specific wheat hybrids can also significantly affect actual levels. For this reason, chemical analysis of incoming batches of wheat is more important than corn.

It is profitable for large businesses to separate and store wheat shipments into at least two storage bins: one for above-average protein wheat and one for below-average protein wheat. The feed formula can then be adjusted accordingly,

  1. Wheat gluten protein is mushy

The chicken does not need to grind the wheat too finely. Not only do chickens not benefit from finer grinds like pigs, but their digestive systems can also be negatively affected. Additionally, wheat gluten is a sticky protein that makes the feed less fluid; it tends to stick to the beak, causing problems with the bird’s ability to feed. Medium to coarse grind sizes are preferred. In fact, it is even possible to feed whole grains in addition to supplementary feed, but this is a completely different approach.

  1. Wheat contains virtually no bioavailable biotin

The bioavailability of biotin in wheat is almost zero, while the bioavailability of biotin in corn is about 75%. Other cereals are also less bioavailable, such as barley and sorghum (10% and 20%, respectively). Biotin is a vitamin that acts as an essential coenzyme in lipid, protein, and energy metabolism, in other words, it plays a central role in metabolism. Biotin can also be destroyed by mold, choline chloride, trace minerals, and feed rancidity. Biotin deficiency causes a number of clinical symptoms, the most obvious of which is leg disease. More realistically, biotin deficiency can reduce lesion healing and lead to reduced footpad health, especially under moist litter conditions.

When wheat is the main grain, it has been reported that supplementation with up to 300 mcg of biotin may be necessary. However, biotin is a very expensive vitamin, so it is best to leave it up to the nutritionist’s discretion based on the actual amount of wheat.

  1. Necrotizing enteritis is favored by wheat

Field reports indicate that a wheat-based diet predisposes to necrotizing enteritis. It may be that the combination of increased viscosity and fine grinding seems to provide an ideal medium for bacterial proliferation. In fact, coarsely ground or milled wheat may reduce the incidence of necrotizing enteritis. This problem is exacerbated in nutritional programs that remove growth-promoting antibiotics from chicken feed. However, necrotizing enteritis is a multifactorial problem that can only be partially addressed by nutritional intervention.

  1. Wheat can be made into harder particles

This is old news to feed manufacturers, but it might be interesting to consider removing additive pellet binders when increasing wheat concentrations in chicken feeds. In fact, increased pellet durability (and thus lower crushing size) and reduced fines content are desirable properties for chicken feed, but superhard pellets require more energy to break in the feed mill.

  1. Mycotoxins in wheat are different from those in corn

If corn is a common grain in production, then switching to the unknown wheat requires further consideration. Wheat is affected by similar molds, but not in the same way as corn. Therefore, the presence and levels of most known mycotoxins may differ in wheat than in corn. For this reason, it is best to consult with an antimycotoxin product supplier to test wheat and decide which product is best for your specific situation. In fact, such advice is reasonable for all grains at all times!

Simply put, wheat is a premium grain that can cost more than corn in traditional chicken recipes, especially in good years. However, some additional considerations are needed in the formulation, manufacturing, and handling of a wheat-based diet to make the transition smooth and problem-free.