Evaluation of sunflower meal as a feed ingredient in broiler chicken diets: the effect of using supplemental fat or pelleting

Abstract

A factorial arrangement of six Isonitrogenous diets involving three levels (0, 10, or 20%) of sunflower meal (32.6% crude protein, 18.4% crude fiber) and two levels (0 or 6%) of animal-vegetable fat were fed ad-libitum to broiler chickens from 1 day to 6 weeks of age. Body weight gain of chicks fed diets containing 10% sunflower meal was the same as that of the controls. However, when sunflower meal level was increased from 10 to 20% of the diet, a growth depression was observed (P of feed consumed/kg of weight gain) was impaired (P inclusion of sunflower meal at 10 or 20% of the diet. The use of 6% supplemental fat resulted in increased body weight gain (P improved feed efficiency (P irrespective of the sunflower meal level in the diet. The inclusion of up to 20% sunflower meal in the diet increased (P weights of proventriculus, gizzard, jejunum and ileum but had no effect on the weights of duodenum and ceca. Energy efficiency (kcal of metabolizable energy consumed/kg of body weight gain) was improved (P weight gain) was impaired (P the diet. The use of 6% supplemental fat improved protein efficiency, irrespective of the level of sunflower meal. Results show that sunflower meal can be used up to 10% of the diet with no adverse effect on growth. However, if supplemental fat is used to increase the energy concentration