The Effect of Faba Beans (Vicia faba L.) on the Performance of Turkey Poults and Broiler Chicks from 0–4 Weeks of Age

Abstract

Experiments were conducted with turkey poults and broiler-type chicks to evaluate faba beans (Vicia faba L.) in poultry rations.Feeding starter rations containing 5, 10 or 20% ground raw faba beans to turkey poults produced no adverse effects on growth and feed efficiency, but inclusion of autoclaved ground faba beans reduced growth as the level of the beans in the diet was increased from 5 to 20%, suggesting a loss in the availability of some amino acids due to heat treatment.Feeding either raw or autoclaved ground faba beans in chick starter rations at levels of 5, 10 or 20 percent produced no deleterious effects on growth rate, hemoglobin concentration or pancreas weight. However, when the diet contained 35% ground faba beans there was a non-significant reduction in weight gain and a significant increase in pancreas weight. Feeding autoclaved ground faba beans at the 35% level increased weight gain and decreased pancreas weight.The tannin content of 4 varieties of faba beans was determined. The concentration of tannins in whole faba beans ranged from 0.34% to 0.50%. The testa contained a greater proportion of the total tannins (phenolics) than the embryo.The trypsin inhibitor activity of crude faba bean extract was found to be about one twenty-fifth that of crude raw soybean extract.