Abstract
Two hundred and sixteen single comb white egg layers of the White Leghorn hens of 24 weeks of age were randomly allocated to 12 groups with three replications of six hens in each. Hens were fed in a factorial arrangement 2x3x2, on diets containing either 16 or 18% crude protein with 0, 3 or 6% fish meal, replacing groundnut meal with soybean meal. Soybean meal incorporation improved (p<0.05) egg production, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and egg weights. Egg quality traits of specific gravity, shape index, albumen index, yolk index and shell thickness remained unchanged. Laying performance was significantly (p<0.05) better at 18% than on 16% dietary protein level. Use of fish meal linearly improved egg production and feed conversion efficiency on diets supplemented with groundnut meal and fish meal incorporation showed quadratic improvement on feed conversion efficiency with SBM diets at 16% dietary protein level. Therefore, use of soybean meal as substitute of groundnut meal is recommended in layer diets, at 16% dietary protein level and fish meal incorporation could be beneficial for layers.
Highlights
The oil seed meals are important sources of protein in the diet of chickens
In comparison to groundnut meal, the amino acid pattern of soybean meal approximates more to dietary requirement of poultry and methionine, which is a relatively deficient
Fish meal level linearly increased rate of lay in GNM diet at 16% protein level, egg production remained unaffected in SBM diets
Summary
The oil seed meals are important sources of protein in the diet of chickens. At present, the requirement of protein sources in India is 4.72 million MT and it will increase to19.83 million MT by 2015 (Chadda, 1998). The requirement of protein sources in India is 4.72 million MT and it will increase to. Apart from animal protein sources, various oil meals prepared from groundnut, sunflower and rapeseed-mustard meals are available for animal and poultry feeding in South Asian countries including India. Groundnut meal is not balanced in amino acids pattern desirable for poultry. It is deficient in methionine, tryptophan and tyrosine (Singh et al, 1981), Its keeping quality is poor as it may develop aflatoxins during storage (Mishra, 1993). In comparison to groundnut meal, the amino acid pattern of soybean meal approximates more to dietary requirement of poultry and methionine, which is a relatively deficient
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