Response of exotic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) poults to diets substituted with varying levels of hydrolysed feather meal or blood meal as partial replacement for fish meal

Abstract

Recent concerns over the seasonal availability and high cost of conventional protein sources has necessitated the search for alternative feed protein with lesser feed-food competitive properties yet desirable and appropriate to poults. A study was designed to determine the response of exotic turkey poults (Meleagris gallopavo) to diets substituted with varying levels of hydrolysed feather meal (HFM) or blood meal (BLM) as partial replacement for fishmeal for 112days. One hundred and ninety-two British United Turkeys BUT) were allotted to eight dietary treatments comprising four replicates and six birds per replicate. The birds were arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement of two protein sources (Hydrolysed feather meal or Blood meal) included at 4 levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%). Diets 1-4 were formulated such that fish meal in control was replaced by feather meal, protein for protein. Diets 5-8 wereformulated such that fish meal in control was replaced by blood meal, protein for protein and included at 0, 10, 20 and 30%. Treatments 1 and 5 were the control groups. Data obtained were subjected to Analysis of Variance using SAS. Turkeys fed test ingredients at 20% substitution level recorded higher (p<0.05) final weight and weight gain and best FCR at starter phase. Cost of feed/kg diet reduced (p<0.05) as the substitution level of test ingredientincreased. Nutrient digestibility and energy metabolisability increased with increased substitution levels of test ingredients at the starter phase. Starter turkeys fed hydrolysed feather meal recorded higher energy metabolisability. It can be concluded from this study that substituting turkey diets with Hydrolysed feather meal and Blood meal at 20% inclusion level improves performance, nutrient digestibility and energy metabolisability.