Effect of Different Levels of Full-Fat Canola Seed as a Replacement for Soybean Meal on the Performance of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of different levels of full-fat canola seed substituted for soybean meal in diet on the performance of 300 day-old male Arian chickens. The experiment was performed in a completely randomize design (CRD) with five treatments and three replicates for each treatment. The experimental treatment included 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 percent canola seed in diets, and were respectively designated as diets A, B, C, D and E, fed to chickens from 1 to 42 days of age. All of the experimental diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. The criteria measured were the growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion and liver weight. Average feed intake and weight gain, were measured weekly .For comparison between means Duncon method (P< 0.05) was used. The mean total body weight was not significantly(P >0.05 ) influenced by canola seed inclusion levels. Feed intake, was significantly (P>0.05 ) influenced as the percent canola seed substitution increased from 0 to 12%, where group fed with a diet containing 12% canola seeds, had the highest (4016g) and control chicks had the lowest feed intake (3583g). Feed conversion ratio (feed-to-gain) was significantly (P>0.05) affected. Diet A gave the best value (1.74) followed by diet B(1.85), D (1.87) and C (1.88) respectively, while diet E had the poorest value (1.96). Percentage of liver to carcass weight was not significantly (P >0.05) influenced by canola inclusion levels.