Nutritional value of rapeseed meal for broiler chicks as influenced by gamma irradiation treatments
2002
Zeb, A. (Nuclear Inst. for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad (Pakistan)) | Bibi, N. | Shah, A.B. | Chaudry, M.A. | Asif, A.R. | Jan, M. | Meulen, U.T.
A 5-week feeding trial was conducted on day-old broiler chicks to study the effect of incorporating radiation treated (5 kGy) and untreated control rapeseed meal (RSM) in the diet on their performance. Differences among different groups regarding total feed intake per bird, total weight gain per bird and final weight per bird were statistically non-significant. It was clear from the results that, although non-significant, feed consumption was maximum in 5 and 10 kGy groups, indicating some taste improvement, which, however, was not paralleled by a concomitant increase in weight gain and, consequently, the feed to gain ratio was maximum with 5 kGy diets. Data regarding dressing percentage showed minimum value for 10-kGy group, while values observed for control, 5 kGy and standard group were comparable to each other (56 to 57%). Values noted for heart weight ranged from 0.58g/100g of body weight (10 kGy group) to 0.67g/1 00g of body weight (5 kGy group), Liver weight ranged from 2.09g/1 00g body weight (control and 10 kGy group) to 2.44g/100g body weight (5 kGy group) and gizzard weight ranged from 1.31g/100g of body weight (10 kGy group) to 1.61g/100g of body weight (5 kGy group). It can be concluded from the study that irradiation of rapeseed meal enhanced its nutritional value in terms of feed consumption and final weight per chick. Irradiation of the meal resulted in sizable reduction in its glucosinolates contents.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Research Centre