Wheat is a very variable grain in terms of its physical and chemical characteristics. Of its
physical characteristics, hardness appears to be the most important quality, having the
greatest influence on broiler performance and nutrient digestibility. The effect of wheat
hardness on broiler performance is also likely to be influenced by feed form (e.g. mash
versus pelleted feed). For the chemical characteristics, the level and structure of the non
starch polysaccharides (NSP) are important criteria in determining the feeding quality of
the wheat. With regard to enzyme response, most research has focused on the chemical
structure, in particular NSP level of the wheat with little attention on the importance of
the physical quality. Further studies are required to better understand the effect of physical
qualities of wheat and how they influence the response to feed enzymes. This review sheds
light on some of the chemical and physical wheat quality that may affect enzyme response
in broilers.
© 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC