The objective of the experiment was to determine the chemical composition, crude energy, apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and corrected metabolizable energy (AMEn) from samples of corn submitted to different drying temperatures (environmental temperature and artificial drying with temperatures of 80, 100 and 120ºC) and different storage periods (0, 60, 120 and 180 days). The total excreta collection method was used to determine the values of AME and AMEn, for Avian Farm birds, males, reared from 21 to 30 days of age. A completed randomized experimental design in a 4 x4 factorial arrangement (drying temperature and storage period), with seven replicates per treatment and seven birds per experimental unity, was used. Each corn sample replaced 40% as fed of the reference diet. Chemical composition analysis and gross energy of each corn samples. The gross energy of excreta also was determined. Chemical composition and gross energy (kcal/kg) were not affected by drying temperatures and storage periods. However, values for AME and AMEn were influenced by drying temperatures and by storage periods, separately. A quadratic effect for drying temperatures was observed, with higher values of AME e AMEn at 49 and 50ºC, respectively, obtained by regression equation. For storage periods it was observed a linear decrease effect. It was observed that the drying temperatures and the storage periods of corn reduced the values of AME and AMEn.
apparent metabolizable energy; broiler chicken; corn; corrected apparent metabolizable energy; storage periods; temperature of drying
