Metabolizable Energy Of Soybean Meal Research Articles

Amino acid digestibility and metabolizable energy of soybean meal of different origins in cecectomized laying hens

This study investigated the variation in amino acid (AA) digestibility and MEn of 18 samples of solvent-extracted soybean meal (SBM; 6 European, 7 Brazilian, 2 Argentinian, 2 North American, 1 Indian) in cecectomized laying hens. The experimental diets contained either 300 g/kg of cornstarch or one of the SBM samples. Pelleted diets were fed to 10 hens in two 5×10 row-column designs so that 5 replicates were obtained from each diet during 5 periods. A regression approach and the difference method were used to determine AA digestibility and MEn, respectively. The variation in the digestibility of SBM differed among AA with ranges in digestibility of 6 to 12%-units for most AA. Among the first-limiting AA, the digestibility was 87 to 93%, 63 to 86%, 85 to 92%, 79 to 89%, and 84 to 95% for Met, Cys, Lys, Thr, and Val, respectively. The range of MEn for the SBM samples was 7.5 to 10.5 MJ/kg DM. Indicators of SBM quality (including trypsin inhibitor activity, KOH solubility, urease activity, and in vitro N solubility) and analyzed SBM constituents were significantly correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with AA digestibility or MEn only in a few cases. No differences were observed in AA digestibility and MEn between countries of origins, except low digestibility of some AA and MEn for the 2 Argentinian SBM samples. These results suggest that the precision of feed formulation benefits from considering the variations in AA digestibility and MEn. Often used indicators for SBM quality and analyzed constituents were not suitable to explain variations in AA digestibility and MEn, suggesting that AA digestibility and MEn are determined by other factors.

Energy values evaluation and improvement of soybean meal in broiler chickens through supplemental mutienzyme

This study measured the metabolizable energy of soybean meal (SBM) and evaluated effects of soybean meal specific enzymes supplementation in corn-soybean diets on growth performance, intestinal digestion properties and energy values of 28-day-old broilers. A total of 336 one-day-old male AA broiler chickens were distributed to 7 groups in a completely random design. The birds were given 7 diets containing 6 diets with different combined soybean meals and a fasting treatment, 8 replicates per treatment and 6 birds per replicate (Trial 1). A total of 672 one-day-old male AA broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 7 dietary treatments including a control diet and 6 diets supplemented with 300 mg/kg α-galactosidase, 200 mg/kg β-mannanase, and 300 mg/kg protease individually or in combination (Trial 2). Apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of broilers was measured from d 25 to 27 in both trial 1 and trial 2. The results showed that AME values of combined soybean meals averaged 2,894 kcal/kg. Dietary β-mannanase and protease supplementation increased body weight gain (P < 0.05) during d 0 to 14, whereas did not affect the growth performance (P > 0.05) during d 14 to 28. Addition of β-mannanase in combination with other enzymes significantly increased lipase and trypsin content (P < 0.05) in ileum. In addition, dietary β-mannanase and protease supplementation individually or in combination enhanced trypsin enzyme content in jejunum (P < 0.05). The β-mannanase enzyme enhanced villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05) of ileum compared with control diet. Moreover, supplementation of enzyme except for protease enhanced raffinose and stachyose degradation ratio (P < 0.05). Dietary β-mannanase supplementation individually or in combination enhanced AME and AMEn values (P < 0.05). This study demonstrated that dietary enzyme supplementation especially β-mannanase improved intestinal digestion properties and contributed to high energy values.

PSVI-19 Yeast-Based High Protein DDGS Has Similar Energy Digestibility in Comparison to Commonly Used Feed Ingredients in Swine Diets

Abstract Alternative ingredients and co-products from the ethanol and biofuel industries represent an opportunity for utilization in swine diets. In this context, understanding nutritional value to practical swine feeding begins with product characterization and determination of nutrient digestibility. The objective of this study was to determine metabolizable energy (ME) of Yeast-based high protein DDGS (HP-GDDY) fed to growing pigs in comparison with common feed ingredients in swine diets. A total of 28 barrows were adapted to individual metabolic crates and fed with 7 diets, a corn-based basal diet and 6 corn–based diets containing spray dried HP-GDDY, ring dried HP-GDDY, conventional DDGS, soybean meal (SBM), enzymatically-treated soybean meal (HP300), and fish meal (FM). Pigs were fed at 4% of BW and assigned to a crossover design with 2 collection periods, which provided 8 observations for each treatment. Fecal and urine samples were collected for 5 d after 7 d of adaptation to determine gross energy content and calculate ME (Table 1). Energy digestibility in spray GDDY and ring GDDY diets was greater than conventional DDGS diet and similar to SBM, HP300, and FM diets. The ME content in ring GDDY (3,926.7 Kcal/Kg) was similar to spray GDDY (4,480.5 Kcal/Kg). The ME in SBM (3824.5 Kcal/Kg), HP300 (3,883.8 Kcal/Kg), and FM (3,823 Kcal/Kg) was similar to spray and ring GDDY. Energy values for spray (4480.48 Kcal/Kg) and ring (3926.70 Kcal/Kg) GDDY are higher when compared with previous reported values for HP DDGS (3732 Kcal/Kg, NRC, 2012). Data from this study support that HP-GDDY products have comparable or greater energy value to commonly used ingredients in swine diets and that drying method had minor influence on energy digestibility. These novel feed ingredients can be used in practical pig diet formulation.

Determination and prediction of digestible and metabolizable energy of soybean meal and wheat bran for finishing pigs

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition, digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in soybean meal (SBM) and wheat bran (WB) fed to finishing pigs and to develop regression equations for predicting DE and ME of SBM and WB. Ten SBM samples were obtained from nine different crushing facilities in nine provinces in China. Ten WB samples were collected from different feed mills of China. There were 2 separated experiments per ingredient in this study, and each experiment was conducted as 6 × 6 Latin Square design with 6 pigs, 6 diets, and 6 periods for determining the DE and ME in SBM and WB. Same basal diets and 5 corn-SBM or 5 corn-SBM-WB diets were included in each Latin Square design, which were allotted to two 6 × 6 Latin Square design. There were differences (P < 0.05) in the DE and ME values in different sources of SBM and WB, respectively. The best-fit equations for SBM were DE (kcal/kg DM) = 298.73 – (63.30 ×% Ash) – (40.60 ×% EE) – (13.84 ×% NDF) + (0.98 × GE (kcal/kg DM)) (R2 = 0.87, P = 0.02) and ME (kcal/kg DM) = 244.67 – (66.82 ×% Ash) – (50.65 ×% EE) – (14.85 ×% NDF) + (0.96 ×GE (kcal/kg DM)) (R2 = 0.92, P < 0.01). The best-fit equations for WB were DE (kcal/kg DM) = – 1864.46 + (220.80 ×% CP) + (56.31 ×% Ash) – (61.95 ×% ADF) + (24.08 ×% SCHO) (R2 = 0.90, P < 0.01) and ME (kcal/kg DM) = 522.87 + (184.78 ×% CP) + (25.00 ×% Ash) – (20.45 ×% NDF) – (62.43 ×% ADF) (R2 = 0.92, P < 0.01). All independent variables are on the DM basis. The chemical composition of SBM and WB vary substantially among originating regions, resulting in considerable variation in its available energy value for pigs. A series of regression equations were developed in the present study to estimate the DE and ME of commercially available SBM and WB for finishing pigs.

Metabolizable Energy of Soybean Meal and Canola Meal as Influenced by the Reference Diet Used and Assay Method.

Simple SummaryA standard nutritionally balanced diet is used as a reference diet into which test feedstuffs are added to determine metabolizable energy of the added test feedstuff either by difference or regression method. We hypothesized that if the composition of the reference diet changes, the metabolizable energy of the test feedstuff will also changes and that the difference and regression methods will not give similar metabolizable energy values for the test feedstuff under these circumstances. To test this hypothesis, we used two reference diets (corn-soybean meal and corn-canola meal), instead of using just one reference diet, to determine metabolizable energy of soybean meal and canola meal. The metabolizable energy of soybean meal and canola meal was greater when corn-canola meal was the reference diet compared with using corn-soybean meal reference diet. Compared with the difference method, the regression method gave greater metabolizable energy value for the test feedstuffs. Results from the current study show that the calculated metabolizable energy value of feedstuffs depends on the reference diet used and that the difference and regression methods did not give similar metabolizable energy value for the test feedstuffs.A 21-day experiment was conducted to study the effect of reference diet type and assay method on apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected (AMEn) of soybean meal (SBM) and canola meal (CM). Broilers (n = 240) were allocated to 10 treatments with eight replicates/treatment and three birds/replicate. Treatments included corn-SBM or corn-CM reference diets (RD). To each RD, 300 or 450 g/kg of SBM or CM were added to make a total of eight test diets. For the difference method, AME of SBM and CM substituted at 300 g/kg in corn-CM RD gave greater AME values compared to inclusion in the corn-SBM RD. The AMEn of SBM increased with increase in inclusion level in the corn-CM RD but AMEn of CM decreased with increased inclusion level of CM in the corn-SBM RD. For the regression method, AME and AMEn of the test feedstuffs were greater with corn-CM RD compared with corn-SBM RD. The AME of SBM was not affected by assay method, whereas AME of CM was lower when determined using the regression method. In conclusion, both the reference diet type and assay method influenced assayed AME and AMEn value of test protein feedstuffs and should be considered in cross-studies comparisons.

Regression Equations of Energy Values of Corn, Soybean Meal, and Wheat Bran Developed by Chemical Composition for Growing Pigs.

Simple SummaryIn pig production, feed represents a large part of the total cost, and available energy in feedstuff represents the greatest proportion of this cost. In China, corn, soybean meal (SBM), and wheat bran (WB) are the principal ingredients in diets of pigs because these feedstuffs are widely available in China, have highly available energy, and are generally economical. In practice, the actual digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) of corn, SBM, and WB are unknown. The experimental determination of DE or ME values is expensive, time consuming, and labor intensive. Regression equations to estimate DE and ME in feed ingredients based on chemical composition can be a useful tool in feed ingredient evaluation. Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate a wide variety of corn, SBM, and WB to generate the regression equation for DE and ME and to evaluate and compare the energy content of various corn, SBM, and WB samples. A range of regression equations were developed in the present study, and proved adequate to reliably predict the DE and ME of commercially available corn, SBM, and WB for growing pigs. The application of these regression equations is expected to optimize productivity and maximize profits for pork producers.The objectives of this study were to determine the chemical compositions, digestible energy (DE), and metabolizable energy (ME) in corn, soybean meal (SBM) and wheat bran (WB) fed to growing pigs, and to develop regression equations for predicting DE and ME. Three separate experiments were conducted to determine DE and ME of corn, SBM, and WB. The DE and ME in corn were determined directly using 10 barrows allotted to a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square design, and the diets were formulated with one of 10 corn samples. The DE and ME in SBM and WB were determined by difference using two corn basal diets and 10 corn-SBM or 10 corn-SBM-WB diets, which were allotted to a replicated 6 × 6 Latin square design. Ten corn samples were obtained from the main corn producing areas of China. Ten SBM samples were obtained from nine different crushing facilities in nine provinces in China. Ten WB samples were collected from different feed mills of China. Samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), gross energy (GE), and soluble carbohydrates (SCHO). The best-fit equations for corn were DE (MJ/kg DM) = 20.18 − 0.76 × EE (%) and ME (MJ/kg DM) = 5.74 + 1.11 × DE (MJ/kg DM) − 0.33 × CP (%) − 0.07 × SCHO (%). The best-fit equations for SBM were DE (MJ/kg DM) = 42.91 − 3.43 × Ash (%) − 0.20 × NDF (%) + 0.09 × ADF (%) and ME (MJ/kg DM) = −21.67 + 0.89 × DE (MJ/kg DM) − 1.06 × GE (MJ/kg DM). The best-fit equations for WB were DE (MJ/kg DM) = −7.09 + 1.54 × CP (%) − 0.25 × NDF (%) − 0.32 × ADF (%) + 0.23 × Ash (%) and ME (MJ/kg DM) = 0.02 + 0.96 × DE (MJ/kg DM). The chemical composition of corn, SBM, and WB can vary substantially from zone to zone, resulting in considerable variation in its available energy value for pig. The DE and ME of corn, SBM and WB for growing pigs can be predicted based on their chemical compositions.

Digestible and metabolizable energy in soybean meal sourced from different countries and fed to pigs

An experiment was conducted to compare the nutritional composition and the concentration of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) of soybean meal (SBM) from the leading soybean producing countries in the world when fed to growing pigs. Five sources of SBM from Argentina, China, and the United States, and 4 sources from Brazil and India were used. A basal diet based on maize and 23 diets based on maize and each source of SBM were formulated. Twenty-four growing barrows (initial BW: 25.0 ± 1.7 kg) were allotted to a 24 × 7 Youden square design with 24 diets and 7 periods of 14 days. Pigs were individually housed in metabolism crates for total but separate collection of feces and urine. The coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD) of gross energy (GE) and concentrations of DE and ME in each diet were calculated using the direct procedure and the DE and ME in each source of SBM were then calculated by difference. Results indicated that there was a tendency (P < 0.10) for Brazilian SBM (17.6 MJ/kg) to have greater concentration of GE than SBM from China and the United States (17.3 MJ/kg). The CATTD of GE in SBM from the United States (0.85), China (0.86), and Argentina (0.86) was greater (P < 0.05) than in SBM from India (0.83). Values for the concentration of DE and ME were calculated on a dry matter basis. Concentrations of DE and ME in Indian SBM were the least (P < 0.05) among countries, and Argentinian SBM had a greater concentration of DE and ME than SBM from the United States. There were no differences in the CATTD of GE among sources of SBM within each country and no differences in the concentration of DE or ME were observed among sources of SBM within Argentina or the United States. However, there were differences in the concentration of DE and ME among sources of SBM collected in India and in China, and a tendency (P < 0.10) for differences in the concentration of ME among sources of SBM collected in Brazil. Therefore, based on the four or five sources of SBM collected from each country it was concluded that SBM from Argentina and the United States were less variable than those from the other countries.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Top Leaf Meal of Indigofera zollingeriana to Substitute Soybean Meal through Evaluation on Protein Quality and Metabolic Energy in Poultry Feed

This study aimed to evaluate protein quality of top leaf meal of Indigofera zollingerina based on its net protein utilization (NPU) as well as to evaluate its metabolizable energy. Fifty broiler chicks were used in determination of NPU while fifteen broiler strain Cobbs chickens aged 5 weeks were used for metabolizable energy measurement. This study used descriptive method in which data obtained were analyzed and compared to NPU and metabolizable energy of soybean meal. The results showed that top leaf meal of Indigofera zollingerina had NPU of 38.58 – 46.98, which is 70.14% - 85-42% of that of soybean meal (55). Its metabolizable energy was 2791.12 kcal/kg and was 9.46% higher than that of soybean meal. As the NPU and metabolizable energy were close to those of soybean meal, top leaf meal of Indigofera zollingerina can be used to substitute protein from soybean meal in poultry feed.

Environmental Stability of Seed Carbohydrate Profiles in Soybeans Containing Different Alleles of the Raffinose Synthase 2 (RS2) Gene.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is important for the high protein meal used for livestock feed formulations. Carbohydrates contribute positively or negatively to the potential metabolizable energy in soybean meal. The positive carbohydrate present in soybean meal consists primarily of sucrose, whereas the negative carbohydrate components are the raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs), raffinose and stachyose. Increasing sucrose and decreasing raffinose and stachyose are critical targets to improve soybean. In three recently characterized lines, variant alleles of the soybean raffinose synthase 2 (RS2) gene were associated with increased sucrose and decreased RFOs. The objective of this research was to compare the environmental stability of seed carbohydrates in soybean lines containing wild-type or variant alleles of RS2 utilizing a field location study and a date of planting study. The results define the carbohydrate variation in distinct regional and temporal environments using soybean lines with different alleles of the RS2 gene.

Validating prediction equations of metabolizable energy of soybean meal for growing pigs

The aim of this study was to evaluate equations to predict the metabolizable energy (ME) of soybean meal (SBM) for swine. Seven SBM were used, which were analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ash, calcium, phosphorus, solubility in potassium hydroxide (KOH) and urease index. To determine the ME of SBM, 32 barrows, with an average initial weight of 29.01 ± 3.64 kg, were used and distributed in a randomized blocks design, with seven treatments and four replicates. To validate the prediction equations, linear regression models were adjusted, using observed values of ME (metabolism trial) as a function of the estimated ME (obtained by applying the chemical composition of the SBM in selected equations found in the literature). The existence of regression was evaluated by the “t” test, partially applied to each parameter (?0 and ?1). The validation of the prediction models of first degree was obtained by accepting the joint null hypothesis ?0 = 0 and ?1 = 1. The equations ME = 5.42 - 17.2FDN - 19.4MM + 0.709GE and ME= 1099 + 0.740GE - 5.5MM - 3.7NDF are effective for estimating the ME of SBM for growing pigs.

Validating prediction equations of metabolizable energy of soybean meal for growing pigs

&lt;p&gt;The aim of this study was to evaluate equations to predict the metabolizable energy (ME) of soybean meal (SBM) for swine. Seven SBM were used, which were analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ash, calcium, phosphorus, solubility in potassium hydroxide (KOH) and urease index. To determine the ME of SBM, 32 barrows, with an average initial weight of 29.01 ± 3.64 kg, were used and distributed in a randomized blocks design, with seven treatments and four replicates. To validate the prediction equations, linear regression models were adjusted, using observed values of ME (metabolism trial) as a function of the estimated ME (obtained by applying the chemical composition of the SBM in selected equations found in the literature). The existence of regression was evaluated by the “t” test, partially applied to each parameter (?0 and ?1). The validation of the prediction models of first degree was obtained by accepting the joint null hypothesis ?0 = 0 and ?1 = 1. The equations ME = 5.42 - 17.2FDN - 19.4MM + 0.709GE and ME= 1099 + 0.740GE - 5.5MM - 3.7NDF are effective for estimating the ME of SBM for growing pigs.&lt;/p&gt;

Prediction equations for the energy values of soybean meal for pigs at the growing phase withex-postvalidation

= 0.65 and e p = 1.69. Based on the chemical composition data and correlations, it was possible to establish prediction equations for the values of digestible and metabolizable energy of soybean meal for pigs, being necessary validation for greater accuracy of the models.

Amino acid digestibility and concentration of digestible and metabolizable energy in soybean meal produced from conventional, high-protein, or low-oligosaccharide varieties of soybeans and fed to growing pigs1

Two experiments were conducted to determine AA digestibility and the concentration of DE and ME in 5 sources of soybean meal (SBM). The 5 sources included hexane-extracted SBM produced from high-protein soybeans (SBM-HP) and conventional soybeans (SBM-CONV), and mechanically extruded-expelled SBM produced from high-protein soybeans (EE-SBM-HP), low-oligosaccharide soybeans (EE-SBM-LO), and conventional soybeans (EE-SBM-CONV). Five diets that each contained 1 source of SBM and a N-free diet were used in Exp. 1 to determine AA digestibility in each meal. Twelve growing barrows (initial BW: 67.7 +/- 1.34 kg) were allotted to a replicated 6 x 6 Latin square design with 6 periods and 6 diets in each square. Each period lasted 7 d, and ileal digesta were collected on d 6 and 7 of each period. Results of the experiment showed that the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of all AA except Trp was similar for SBM-HP and SBM-CONV, but EE-SBM-HP and EE-SBM-LO had greater (P < 0.05) SID of His, Ile, Lys, Thr, and Val than EE-SBM-CONV. The SID of all indispensable AA in EE-SBM-HP was greater (P < 0.05) than in SBM-HP. The SID of Arg, Ile, Leu, and Phe in EE-SBM-CONV was greater (P < 0.05) than in SBM-CONV, but the SID of Trp was also greater (P < 0.05) in SBM-CONV than in EE-SBM-CONV. Experiment 2 was conducted to measure DE and ME in the same 5 sources of SBM as used in Exp. 1. Forty-eight growing barrows (initial BW: 38.6 +/- 3.46 kg) were placed in metabolism cages and randomly allotted to 6 diets with 8 replicates per diet. A corn-based diet and 5 diets based on a mixture of corn and each source of SBM were formulated. Urine and feces were collected during a 5-d collection period, and values for DE and ME in each source of SBM were calculated using the difference procedure. Results showed that the ME in SBM-HP tended to be greater (P = 0.10) than in SBM-CONV (4,074 vs. 3,672 kcal/kg of DM). The ME in EE-SBM-HP also tended to be greater (P = 0.10) than in EE-SBM-CONV and in EE-SBM-LO (4,069 vs. 3,620 and 3,721 kcal/kg of DM), but there was no difference in ME between extracted and extruded-expelled meals. It is concluded that SBM-HP has a greater feeding value than SBM-CONV because of greater concentrations of digestible AA and ME. Likewise, EE-SBM-LO has a greater concentration of most indispensable AA than EE-SBM-CONV, but the concentration of ME is similar in these 2 meals. Results of this experiment also showed that AA digestibility values in extruded-expelled SBM are greater than in hexane-extracted SBM.

Physico-chemical properties and metabolizable energi value of protein concentrate from palm kernel meal in broiler.

Protein concentrate from palm kernel meal (BIS PRO) was produced using combination method of grinding and ethanol extraction. The experiment was conducted to evaluate physico-chemical properties and metabolizable energy value of BIS PRO in broiler. The metabolizable energy experiment was conducted in Completely Randomized Design using 19 broilers Ross strain with average body weight of 1.79 ± 0.11 kg. The treatment diets were: R1(90 % basal diet + 10% palm kernel meal), R2 (90% basal diet + 10% BIS PRO) and R3 (90% basal diet + 10% soybean meal).The result showed that BIS PRO had higher specific density (0.723 g/ml), compacted specific density (0.885 g/ml), specific gravity (1.596 g/ml), and angle of repose (28.320) compared to those of palm kernel meal and soybean meal. Total solubility of BIS PRO (70.22%) were higher than that of the others. BIS PRO had metabolizable energy of 1.94 – 2.66 time higher compared to metabolizable energy of palm kernel meal, but there was no difference compared to metabolizable energy of soybean meal. It is concluded that BIS PRO has physicochemical properties and metabolizable value better than that of palm kernel meal and were equal to that of soybean meal. Key Words : Physico-Chemical Characteristics, Protein Concentrate, Palm Kernel Meal, Metabolizable Energy, Broiler

Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Sunflower Meal and the Possibility of Substitution of Sunflower Meal for Soybean Meal in Poultry Diets

The following investigations were conducted to study the nutritional value of sunflower meal which was produced at various processing temperatures, and the possibility of replacing soybean meal by sunflower meal in poultry diets. The criteria used were: determination of available phosphorus, available lysine, net protein value (N.P.V.) and the metabolizable energy (M.E.). Also, a growth study was carried out. The results obtained are summarized as follows: Available phosphorus of sunflower meal (0.2%) was lower than that of soybean meal (0.3%). The range of processing temperature (105–125°C. of the cooker and 80–130°C. of the conditioner) had no significant effect on available phosphorus of sunflower meal samples.Processing temperature had a profound effect on available lysine of the samples. Available lysine of sunflower meal was significantly decreased by increases in processing temperature. Soybean meal was quite superior to sunflower meal samples with regard to available lysine content.Net protein value showed the same trend as lysine availability in response to processing temperature. Although the N.P.V. of soybean meal (55.23%) was higher than N.P.V. of sunflower meal (44.21–49%), supplementation of sunflower meal with lysine improved the N.P.V. of the sample and gave even a higher value than that of soybean meal (64.75% vs. 55.23%).Metabolizable energy of soybean meal (2.5 Kcal./gm.) was higher than the M.E. of sunflower meal samples (1.8–2.1 Kcal./gm.) Supplementation of sunflower meal with lysine improved the M.E., however, the effect of lysine supplementation was not significant.Growth data indicated that 50% of soybean meal protein could be replaced with sunflower meal protein with no adverse effect on gain and feed conversion. Substitution of soybean meal protein with sunflower meal even up to the level of 100% seemed to be possible provided that lysine and a rich source of energy are added.