Comparison of Broiler Performance and Carcass ... - CERA

Comparison of Broiler Performance and Carcass Parameters When Fed Diets
Containing Combined Trait Insect-Protected and Glyphosate-Tolerant Corn
(MON 89034 × NK603), Control, or Conventional Reference Corn
M. Taylor,* 1 D. Lucas,* M. Nemeth,* S. Davis,† and G. Hartnell*
*Monsanto Company, Product Safety Center, Creve Couer, MO 63167;
and †Colorado Quality Research, Wellington, CO 80549
ABSTRACT A 42-d floor pen study was conducted to MON 89034 × NK603. Broilers were fed starter diets (approximately
compare broiler (Ross × Ross 308) performance and carcass
measurements when fed diets containing lepidopteran-protected
corn combined with glyphosate-tolerant
corn (MON 89034 × NK603) with those of broilers fed
57% wt/wt corn grain) from d 0 to 21 and
grower-finisher diets (approximately 59% wt/wt corn
grain) from d 21 to 42. The study utilized a randomized
complete block design with 8 dietary treatments assigned
diets containing corn grain from the conventional control randomly within 5 blocks of 16 pens each (8 male and 8
(similar genetic background to the test corn) and 6 conventional
corn hybrids. It has been found that MON 89034
female) with 10 birds per pen. There were 10 pens per
treatment group (5 male and 5 female). Weight at d 0 and
42, feed intake, feed conversion, and all measured carcass
produces the Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 insecticidal proteins
that protect corn plants from feeding damage caused
and meat quality parameters were not different (P > 0.05)
for birds fed MON 89034 × NK603 and control corn diets.
by European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) and other lepidopteran
insect pests. In addition, NK603 produces the to the population of the control and 6 reference corn
In addition, comparisons of the MON 89034 × NK603 diet
5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase protein diets showed no difference (P > 0.05) in any performance,
from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 (CP4 EPSPS), which carcass, or meat quality parameter measured. In conclusion,
confers tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in
Roundup agricultural herbicides. The traditional breeding
of plants that express the individual traits produced
the diets containing MON 89034 × NK603 were nu-
tritionally equivalent to diets containing the control or
conventional reference corn grain when fed to broilers.
Key words: broiler performance, genetically modified corn, carcass yield, Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2
2007 Poultry Science 86:1988–1994
INTRODUCTION
Combined trait corn MON 89034 × NK603 was produced
by traditional breeding of plants expressing the
individual MON 89034 and NK603 traits. It has been
found that MON 89034 produces the Cry1A.105 and
Cry2Ab2 insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis
that protect the corn plants from feeding damage caused
by European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) and other
lepidopteran insect pests. In addition, NK603 produces
the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase protein
from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 (CP4 EPSPS),
which confers tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient
in Roundup agricultural herbicides. More than
60% of all corn grown in the United States is used as
poultry and livestock feed (NCGA, 2006). Previously,
©2007 Poultry Science Association Inc.
Received February 27, 2007.
Accepted May 24, 2007.
1 Corresponding author: mary.l.taylor@monsanto.com
researchers have reported no biologically relevant differences
in performance, carcass, or meat quality parameters
in studies in which poultry and livestock were fed
diets containing insect-protected or herbicide-tolerant
corn as compared with conventional corn (Flachowsky
et al., 2005; Taylor et al., 2005). Broiler feeding studies are
the model of choice for comparing the wholesomeness of
genetically modified grain to conventional grain, because
their rapid weight gain makes them sensitive to
small nutrient or antinutrient changes in the diet. This
study was conducted to compare bird performance (feed
intake, BW, and feed conversion), carcass yield, and
meat quality of the birds fed diets containing MON
89034 × NK603, control (similar genetic background to
the test corn), and conventional reference corn.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Broilers and Housing
This study was conducted in accordance with the principles
and guidelines for the care and use of agricultural
1988

PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS FED GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN 1989
animals in research (Federation of Animal Science Societies,
1999), was consistent with the recent recommendations
issued by the International Life Sciences Institute
(Cromwell et al., 2003), and, as applicable, was in compliance
with FDA (1979) and EPA (1983) Good Laboratory
Practice Regulations. Ross × Ross 308 broiler chickens
were obtained (Welp’s Hatchery, Bancroft, IA) at 1dof
age. Broilers were vaccinated for Marek’s disease at the
hatchery and for Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis
at the test site on the study start day. The broilers
were randomly assigned by sex to concrete floored pens
(1.5 × 0.9 m, providing approximately 0.09 m 2 per bird
excluding feeder space), with 10 to 13 cm of clean wood
shavings in an environmentally controlled building with
incandescent lighting. Incandescent lighting was provided
for 23 to 24 h/d for approximately the first 4 d of
the study and for 10 to 16 h for the remainder of the
study. The target room temperature was 34°C at the start
of the study and was gradually decreased each day to
a target room temperature of 23°C from d 30 through
the remainder of the study. Water and feed were available
for ad libitum consumption throughout the study.
Within each pen, water was provided via 4 nipple drinkers,
and feed was provided via a hanging tube feeder
(43-cm diameter). A chick feeder tray was placed in each
pen for the first 4 d. Environmental conditions (floor
space, temperature, lighting, bird density, and feeder
and water space) were similar for all treatments.
Experimental Design
A randomized complete block design was used with
8 dietary treatments (test, control, and 6 conventional
reference corn diets). For each of the 8 treatment groups,
there were 100 broilers in 10 pens (total of 800 broilers):
5 pens of males and 5 pens of females (10 broilers/pen).
Initially, there were an additional 2 broilers in each pen
to compensate for early chick mortality during the first
few days posthatch. At d 7, the group size was adjusted
to 10 broilers/pen. The initial criterion for d-7 bird removal
was unthrifty birds with a health or deformity
problem (leg problem, crooked beak, swollen eyes) that
would prevent the bird from surviving the length of the
study, followed by random selection, the reason for the
majority of removals.
Corn Grain
The control corn grain and MON 89034 × NK603 were
produced in Madison County, Illinois, during the 2005
growing season. Conventional reference corn grain (NC
+ 5411, NK N72-J5, Midland 7B15, Garst 8371, and Pioneer
32B33) was produced in 2005 in Warren County,
Illinois, and conventional reference DKC61-50 was produced
in 2005 in York County, Nebraska.
Mycotoxin (Romer Laboratories, Union, MO; aflatoxins,
ochratoxin, citrinin, zearalenone, trichothecenes,
and fumonisins) and pesticide residue (FDA, 1999; Covance
Laboratories, Madison, WI; organochlorinates, organophosphates,
organonitrogens, and N-methylcarbamates)
analyses of the corn grain were conducted to
verify that the levels were below the limits of concern for
broiler performance. Proximate [CP (955.04 and 979.09),
crude fat (960.39 and 948.22), crude fiber (962.09), and
moisture (926.08 and 925.09)] and amino acid (982.30)
analyses were performed on the grain at Covance Laboratories
according to methods of AOAC International
(2005). Carbohydrate values were calculated.
Diets
Diets were formulated to contain approximately the
same amount of corn and equivalent ME, amino acid
(Lys, Met + Cys, Trp, Thr, and Arg), CP, Ca, P, N, and
K specifications based on the individual nutrient analyses
of each grain lot (Table 1). Dietary protein was provided
by the corn grain supplemented with commercial
dehulled soybean meal. Diets were formulated to meet
or exceed NRC (1994) values for poultry. A coccidiostat,
salinomycin (Intervet Inc., Millsboro, DE), was included
in all diets at a level of 50 g/ton. Broilers were fed a
starter diet containing approximately 57% wt/wt corn
grain from d 0 to 21. For the rest of the experiment
(d 21 to 42), broilers were fed a grower-finisher diet
containing approximately 59% wt/wt corn grain (Table
2). Proximate [CP (990.03), crude fat (954.02), and moisture
(934.01)], amino acid (982.30), and mineral (985.01)
analyses of poultry diets (University of Missouri, Experiment
Station Chemical Laboratories, Columbia, MO)
were conducted according to AOAC International methods
for confirmation of formulated levels of nutrient
composition.
Measurements
Broilers were observed regularly for general health.
All dead birds and those killed due to their unhealthy
condition were weighed and necropsied, and the probable
cause of death or reason for removal was documented.
Broilers were weighed at d 0 and 42 by pen
and individually before processing at study termination
(d 43 for males and d 44 for females). Average BW (kg)
and feed intake (kg) were calculated from pen data. The
average feed conversion (kg/kg) per pen was calculated
for the entire duration of the study by dividing the total
feed consumption during the study by the total BW of
the surviving broilers in the pen. Adjusted feed conversion
was calculated by dividing the total feed consumption
per pen by the total BW of the surviving broilers
and those that died or were removed from the pen. At
the end of the study, all broilers were processed for
assessment of carcass yield. Skinless thigh and breast
tissues were collected from 1 randomly selected broiler
from each pen and analyzed for moisture (934.01), protein
(984.13), and fat (954.02) at the Experiment Station
Chemical Laboratories according to the 17th edition of
the AOAC International methods (AOAC, 2000).

1990
TAYLOR ET AL.
Table 1. Proximate (%) and amino acid (%) composition 1 of MON 89034 × NK603, control, and conventional reference corn
Analyzed composition MON H1325023 DKC61-50 NC + 5411 NK N72-J5 Midland 7B15 Garst 8371 Pioneer 32B33
(as-is basis) 89034 × NK603 control reference reference reference reference reference reference
CP 7.89 7.59 8.84 7.35 6.84 7.07 6.91 7.24
Crude fat 2.39 2.51 3.37 2.38 2.41 2.33 2.24 3.13
Moisture 10.8 10.9 11.3 11.1 12.5 11.3 12.1 12.4
Crude fiber 2.87 2.66 2.33 2.68 3.18 3.28 2.90 2.33
Asp 0.53 0.54 0.62 0.48 0.48 0.46 0.47 0.51
Thr 0.29 0.29 0.33 0.27 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.27
Ser 0.38 0.39 0.48 0.37 0.36 0.35 0.36 0.38
Glx 1.32 1.44 1.84 1.33 1.25 1.25 1.28 1.41
Pro 0.63 0.66 0.83 0.69 0.67 0.65 0.66 0.67
Gly 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.29 0.30 0.29 0.29 0.29
Ala 0.55 0.58 0.73 0.52 0.51 0.49 0.50 0.56
Cys 0.17 0.18 0.19 0.18 0.16 0.18 0.17 0.15
Val 0.37 0.39 0.45 0.35 0.35 0.33 0.34 0.35
Met 0.18 0.20 0.17 0.16 0.15 0.16 0.15 0.15
Ile 0.26 0.28 0.34 0.25 0.24 0.23 0.24 0.25
Leu 0.85 0.93 1.26 0.87 0.81 0.80 0.83 0.93
Tyr 0.27 0.19 0.21 0.26 0.24 0.23 0.24 0.25
Phe 0.38 0.40 0.51 0.38 0.36 0.36 0.37 0.39
His 0.22 0.23 0.25 0.22 0.21 0.21 0.21 0.21
Lys 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.23 0.24 0.23 0.22 0.22
Arg 0.40 0.37 0.39 0.34 0.35 0.34 0.33 0.35
Trp 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04
1 Analyses conducted at Covance Laboratories, Madison, Wisconsin.
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analyses were performed on d 0, d 42, preprocessing
live weights, feed consumption, feed conversion,
adjusted feed conversion, chilled carcass weight,
fad pad, breast, thigh, wing, and drum weight; as well
as moisture, protein, and fat values for breast and thigh
meat. Carcass yield values were evaluated on a weight
basis and as a percentage of preprocessing live or chilled
carcass weight as appropriate. Statistical analysis (AN-
OVA) was carried out using a linear mixed model procedure
of SAS, version 9.1.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC).
The statistical model included effects of treatments,
sex, block, and sex × treatment interactions, with the
Table 2. Ingredient composition of diets containing MON 89034 × NK603, control, and conventional reference corn
Ingredient MON H1325023 DKC61-50 NC + 5411 NK N72-J5 Midland 7B15 Garst 8371 Pioneer 32B33
(%, as-is basis) 89034 × NK603 control reference reference reference reference reference reference
Starter diet formulation
Corn 57.34 57.51 58.09 56.89 56.59 56.40 56.55 56.78
Dehulled soybean meal 35.80 35.65 35.15 36.15 36.40 36.60 36.45 36.25
Soy oil 3.35 3.35 3.25 3.45 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.45
Defluorinated phosphate 1.80 1.85 1.80 1.90 1.90 1.85 1.90 1.90
Limestone 0.80 0.75 0.80 0.70 0.70 0.75 0.70 0.70
Salt 0.30 0.29 0.29 0.29 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.28
DL-Met 0.23 0.21 0.23 0.23 0.24 0.22 0.23 0.24
Choline chloride 60% 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15
Trace minerals 1 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10
Vitamins 2 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10
Sacox (coccidiostat) 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04
Grower-finisher diet formulation
Corn 59.43 59.50 59.44 59.44 59.43 59.48 59.43 59.48
Dehulled soybean meal 33.50 33.5 33.50 33.50 33.50 33.5 33.50 33.50
Soy oil 3.80 3.80 3.80 3.85 3.85 3.80 3.85 3.80
Defluorinated phosphate 1.70 1.70 1.70 1.75 1.75 1.70 1.75 1.75
Limestone 0.70 0.65 0.70 0.60 0.60 0.65 0.60 0.60
Salt 0.31 0.31 0.31 0.30 0.30 0.31 0.30 0.30
DL-Met 0.22 0.20 0.21 0.22 0.23 0.22 0.23 0.23
Choline chloride 60% 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10
Trace minerals 1 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10
Vitamins 2 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10
Sacox (coccidiostat) 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04
1 Trace mineral premix (SEM Minerals, Quincy, IL) contained 5 to 6% Ca and provided the following in milligrams per kilogram of diet: Mn,
120; Zn, 100; Fe, 40; Cu, 10; I, 1.4; Se, 0.3, and Mg, 26.
2 Vitamin premix (Roche Vitamins Inc., Parsippany, NJ) provided the following per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 9,350 IU from all trans-retinyl
acetate; cholecalciferol D 3 , 3,025 IU; vitamin E, 27.5 IU from DL-α-tocopherol; vitamin B 12 , 13.75 mg; riboflavin, 7.7 mg; niacin, 49.5 mg; pantothenic
acid, 12.1 mg; menadione, 1.925 mg; folic acid, 0.99 mg; ethoxyquin, 77 mg; biotin, 0.088 mg; thiamine, 1.925 mg; and pyridoxine, 3.08 mg.

PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS FED GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN 1991
Table 3. Nutrient composition of diets containing MON 89034 × NK603, control, and conventional reference corn
Analyzed composition MON H1325023 DKC61-50 NC + 5411 NK N72-J5 Midland 7B15 Garst 8371 Pioneer 32B33
(as-is basis) 89034 × NK603 control reference reference reference reference reference reference
Starter diets
ME 1 (kcal/kg) 3,079 3,080 3,081 3,081 3,081 3,078 3,080 3,080
CP (%) 21.8 22.2 22.4 22.8 20.6 22.6 21.9 22.6
Crude fat (%) 5.33 5.32 4.80 4.89 5.48 5.13 5.36 5.43
Moisture (%) 12.0 11.5 13.5 12.6 12.5 12.5 12.6 12.5
Arg (%) 1.47 1.47 1.40 1.49 1.35 1.47 1.44 1.50
Lys (%) 1.29 1.31 1.23 1.34 1.20 1.31 1.27 1.32
Met (%) 0.56 0.52 0.50 0.49 0.49 0.50 0.49 0.54
Cys (%) 0.37 0.37 0.37 0.38 0.35 0.38 0.37 0.37
Trp (%) 0.27 0.26 0.24 0.28 0.24 0.27 0.27 0.28
Thr (%) 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.84 0.78 0.85 0.83 0.86
Val (%) 1.02 1.02 0.99 1.07 0.95 0.98 0.97 1.01
Ca (%) 1.02 0.98 0.84 0.76 0.83 0.85 0.79 0.81
P (%) 0.78 0.77 0.67 0.64 0.66 0.67 0.65 0.66
Grower-finisher diets
ME 1 (kcal/kg) 3,133 3,134 3,133 3,137 3,137 3,135 3,137 3,135
CP (%) 21.3 21.7 22.3 21.0 20.7 20.6 20.9 21.6
Crude fat (%) 6.09 5.87 5.84 5.36 5.96 5.69 5.67 6.41
Moisture (%) 11.1 11.1 12.2 12.0 11.1 11.9 11.9 11.2
Arg (%) 1.41 1.43 1.42 1.40 1.36 1.34 1.35 1.43
Lys (%) 1.25 1.27 1.24 1.24 1.18 1.19 1.19 1.25
Met (%) 0.55 0.52 0.52 0.53 0.54 0.51 0.50 0.56
Cys (%) 0.35 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.35 0.34 0.35 0.35
Trp (%) 0.26 0.27 0.26 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.26
Thr (%) 0.81 0.81 0.82 0.80 0.79 0.77 0.77 0.80
Val (%) 0.97 1.03 1.04 1.00 0.90 0.95 0.98 1.01
Ca (%) 0.97 0.85 0.92 0.88 0.87 0.86 0.85 0.93
P (%) 0.79 0.70 0.74 0.69 0.68 0.69 0.67 0.73
1 Calculated based on assigned values for diet components.
experimental unit being the pen. The mean values obtained
for the broilers fed MON 89034 × NK603 diets
were compared (combined sex) with those fed the control
and conventional reference corn diets at the 5% level
of significance using a protected Fisher’s least significant
difference test (Fisher, 1949). When a significant sex ×
treatment interaction was noted (P < 0.15), the mean
values were also evaluated by sex. An additional statistical
analysis compared data from broilers fed the MON
89034 × NK603 diet to the population of responses from
broilers fed the control and conventional reference corn
diets to determine whether the values of the test corn
diet were within the population of control and reference
corn diets used in this study.
RESULTS
General Observations
Mycotoxin and pesticide levels in MON 89034 ×
NK603, control, and conventional reference corn used
in diet preparation were below the limits of concern for
broiler performance. All pesticide values were below
the assay limits of detection reported in parentheses
and were as follows: organophosphates (0.050 ppm),
organonitrogens (0.500 ppm), organochlorinates (0.200
ppm), and N-methylcarbamates (0.100 ppm). The nutrient
assay results for diets are presented in Table 3.
Chick mortality was low (0.2%) during the first 7 d,
and mortality observed was primarily due to bacterial
infection, dehydration, or starve-out. Mortality from d
7 to 42 ranged from 1 to 2% across treatments (mortality
for the MON 89034 × NK603 treatment was 1%). The d
7 to 42 deaths were primarily attributed to sudden death
and ascites. Mortality was random across treatments,
and remaining broilers in all treatments were in good
health.
Performance measurements of BW at d 0 (g/bird and
kg/pen) and d 42 (kg/bird and kg/pen), total feed intake
(kg/bird and kg/pen), and unadjusted and adjusted
feed conversion (kg/kg) were not different (P >
0.05) between the broilers fed diets containing MON
89034 × NK603 and those fed control corn with similar
genetic background (Table 4). Likewise, carcass measurements
including chilled weight and fat pad weight
(kg and % of live weight) and weights of breast, wing,
drum, and thigh parts (each expressed as kg and % of
chilled weight) were not different (P > 0.05) between
broilers fed diets containing MON 89034 × NK603 and
those fed the control corn diet. A significant (P < 0.05)
difference was detected for fat pad weights (kg and %
of chilled weight); however, fat pad weights for broilers
fed both MON 89034 × NK603 and control corn grain
diets were not different and were within the range of
weights observed among the 6 conventional reference
corn based diets (Table 4). No differences (P > 0.05)
among any of the diets were observed for the percentage
of moisture, protein, or fat in skinless thigh and breast
meat samples collected at processing. Comparison of the
data from broilers fed MON 89034 × NK603 corn to that

1992
TAYLOR ET AL.
Table 4. Performance, carcass yield, and meat quality comparison of broilers fed diets containing MON 89034 × NK603, control, and conventional reference corn 1
MON NC Midland Garst Pioneer
89034 H1325023 DKC61-50 + 5411 NK N72-J5 7B15 8371 32B33 Treatment LSD 2
Item × NK603 control reference reference reference reference reference reference P 5.0%
Performance
Live weight (g/bird), d 0 38.183 38.850 38.517 39.017 38.850 38.767 38.433 38.400 NS 0.758
Live weight (kg/bird), d 42 2.682 2.649 2.614 2.685 2.650 2.647 2.654 2.623 NS 0.064
Feed intake (kg/bird) 4.260 4.217 4.149 4.275 4.195 4.205 4.236 4.166 NS 0.100
Feed intake (kg/pen) 42.205 41.745 41.195 42.745 41.715 41.405 41.945 41.390 NS 1.431
Feed conversion (kg/kg) 1.632 1.636 1.637 1.619 1.639 1.644 1.641 1.638 NS 0.049
Adjusted feed 1.609 1.612 1.601 1.609 1.603 1.612 1.614 1.605 NS 0.022
conversion 3 (kg/kg)
Carcass yield
Processing live weight 4 (kg) 2.642 2.602 2.575 2.632 2.609 2.599 2.608 2.583 NS 0.061
Chilled weight (kg) 1.888 1.857 1.832 1.886 1.861 1.860 1.864 1.843 NS 0.046
Chilled weight 71.468 71.400 71.204 71.656 71.376 71.570 71.501 71.345 NS 0.392
(% of live weight)
Fat pad weight (kg) 0.047 ab 0.045 abc 0.042 c 0.045 abc 0.047 ab 0.045 bc 0.049 a 0.044 bc * 0.004
Fat pad weight 1.803 ab 1.766 abc 1.647 c 1.740 bc 1.810 ab 1.751 bc 1.894 a 1.711 bc * 0.137
(% of live weight)
Breast meat weight (kg) 0.514 0.502 0.498 0.509 0.500 0.502 0.503 0.497 NS 0.017
Breast meat weight 27.159 27.011 27.209 26.969 26.879 26.969 26.993 26.969 NS 0.461
(% of chill weight)
Thigh weight (kg) 0.335 0.327 0.325 0.336 0.333 0.331 0.329 0.322 NS 0.010
Thigh weight 17.745 17.591 17.720 17.783 17.851 17.784 17.672 17.451 NS 0.320
(% of chill weight)
Drum weight (kg) 0.266 0.263 0.261 0.268 0.263 0.262 0.265 0.260 NS 0.006
Drum weight 14.102 14.174 14.200 14.177 14.133 14.090 14.191 14.099 NS 0.200
(% of chill weight)
Wing weight (kg) 0.208 0.203 0.202 0.205 0.204 0.205 0.205 0.202 NS 0.004
Wing weight 11.027 10.930 11.000 10.864 10.937 11.036 11.024 10.997 NS 0.178
(% of chill weight)
Breast meat analysis
Moisture (%) 75.445 75.481 75.251 75.399 75.390 75.337 75.197 75.416 NS 0.414
Protein (%, as-is basis) 22.148 22.253 22.518 22.310 22.302 22.452 22.557 22.271 NS 0.494
Fat (%, as-is basis) 0.779 0.791 0.760 0.745 0.732 0.637 0.698 0.712 NS 0.197
Thigh meat analysis
Moisture (%) 76.744 76.498 76.572 76.594 76.847 76.717 76.524 76.889 NS 0.505
Protein (%, as-is basis) 20.242 20.227 20.464 20.285 19.898 20.758 20.493 19.910 NS 0.697
Fat (%, as-is basis) 1.512 1.639 1.765 1.674 1.470 1.422 1.926 1.547 NS 0.527
a–c Individual treatment means (sample size of 10) with the same superscript letter in the same row are not statistically different (P < 0.05); NS = P < 0.05.
1 Mean values of combined males and females.
2 LSD = least significant difference between 2 means (P < 0.05).
3 Feed conversion adjusted by dividing the total feed consumption per pen by the total BW of the surviving broilers and those that died or were removed from the pen.
4 Processing live weight = preprocessing weight on d 43 (males) or d 44 (females).
*P < 0.05.

PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS FED GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN 1993
Table 5. Performance, carcass yield, and meat quality comparison of MON 89034 × NK603 with population of
control and conventional corn references 1 Corn in diets Variety effect
MON
Control and
89034 conventional LSD 3
Parameter × NK603 references SSD 2 5%
Performance
Live weight (g/bird), d 0 38.183 38.690 NS 0.655
Live weight (kg/bird), d 42 2.682 2.646 NS 0.053
Feed intake (kg/bird) 4.260 4.206 NS 0.110
Feed conversion (kg/kg) 1.632 1.636 NS 0.037
Adjusted feed conversion (kg/kg) 1.609 1.608 NS 0.016
Carcass yield
Processing live weight (kg/bird) 2.642 2.601 NS 0.045
Chill weight (kg/bird) 1.888 1.858 NS 0.044
Chill weight (% of live weight) 71.468 71.436 NS 0.396
Fat pad weight (kg/bird) 0.047 0.045 NS 0.006
Fat pad weight (% of live weight) 1.803 1.760 NS 0.203
Breast weight (% of chill weight) 27.159 27.000 NS 0.339
Thigh weight (% of chill weight) 17.745 17.693 NS 0.356
Drum weight (% of chill weight) 14.102 14.152 NS 0.142
Wing weight (% of chill weight) 11.027 10.970 NS 0.133
Breast meat analysis
Moisture (%) 75.445 75.353 NS 0.297
Protein (%, as-is basis) 22.148 23.380 NS 0.358
Fat (%, as-is basis) 0.779 0.725 NS 0.148
Thigh meat analysis
Moisture (%) 76.744 76.663 NS 0.377
Protein (%, as-is basis) 20.242 20.291 NS 0.822
Fat (%, as-is basis) 1.512 1.635 NS 0.467
1 Mean values of combined males and females.
2 SSD = statistical significance of differences; NS = P > 0.05.
3 LSD = least significant difference between 2 means (P < 0.05).
of the population of broilers (combined sex) fed diets
containing control and conventional reference corn
showed no differences (P > 0.05) in any measured performance,
carcass yield, or meat quality parameter (Table
5).
DISCUSSION
The results of this broiler feeding study support the
conclusion that there are no differences in the parameters
evaluated between broilers fed insect-protected and
glyphosate-tolerant (MON 89034 × NK603), genetically
similar control, and conventional reference corn. The
MON 89034 × NK603 corn evaluated in this study is
nutritionally equivalent in broiler diets to grain from
the control and conventional references. This conclusion
is consistent with the compositional evaluation of the
MON 89034 × NK603 corn that showed no relevant differences
in nutritional and compositional properties relative
to control and conventional corn (Taylor et al.,
2007). Flachowsky et al. (2005) reviewed published reports
of feeding studies evaluating genetically modified
grain and found no reports of significant effects of feeding
broilers with grain containing either insect-protected
or herbicide-tolerant traits on broiler performance or
carcass parameters. Furthermore, Taylor et al. (2007) reported
no meaningful difference in broiler performance
or carcass parameters when fed diets containing MON
89034 single-trait or MON 89034 × MON 810 combinedtrait
corn grain compared with those of birds fed identically
formulated control and conventional reference
corn-based diets. These data support the conclusion that
the grain from MON 89034 × NK603 corn is as nutritious
as conventional corn.
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