This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of humidity levels at harvesting period and drying temperatures of wheat grain in isoprotein, isoenergy and isovolumetric diets on broiler performance. The wheat grains were harvested with 30, 16 and 13% of humidity levels and submitted to drying temperatures of 100, 70 and 40°C. The level of 13% of humidity was not submitted to drying. The diets were offered to birds in three distinct periods, 1-21; 22-35 and 36-42 days of age. The parameters evaluated were body weight gain, feed:gain ratio, feed intake and weight gain. During the three evaluated periods the body weight gain and during 22-35 days and 36-42 days the feed intake of broilers submitted to diets with wheat were higher. Feed:gain ratio of broilers submitted to wheat diets during the 1-21 days period were lower. At 21 and 42 days of age, one bird representing the average body weight of each replicate was selected for processing and evaluation of carcass nutrient composition and crude energy content, however there were no differences for these parameters at both ages. Birds representing the average body weight of all replicates were processed for determination of carcass yield at 42 days of age. In absolute terms carcass weights were higher than birds under the treatment with wheat, in spite of humidity at harvest and the following drying temperature applied. Inclusion of wheat in broiler diets in levels of 50 % in substitution of corn is technically feasible during all the raising period (1 42 days), in spite of humidity at harvest and drying temperature.
broiler; carcass characteristics; chemical composition; wheat
