Utilization of Spent Hen Meal in Diets for Laying Hens

Abstract

Protein supplements produced by rendering of whole hens at the end of their production cycle (spent hen meal) was used to provide a portion of the diets of laying hens in an 84 d feeding trial. Diets were formulated to provide 0, 5, 10, or 15% spent hen meal (SHM) from three different locations using conventional rendering procedures. The diets were formulated to provide digestible amino acids at a minimum of 95% of recommended (NRC, 1994) total amino acids for laying hens consuming 100 g of feed per day. Results of the study indicate that nutritionally valuable high-protein meals can be produced from whole spent hens using conventional rendering procedures. Such meals may be safely used at levels up to 10% in diets for laying hens provided good analytical procedures are followed to determine nutritional content. Due to the high level of residual fat and the highly unsaturated nature of this fat, it will be necessary to insure that adequate amounts of a suitable antioxidant is used during manufacturing to prevent rancidity development.