Growth performance of Single Comb White Leghorn chicks fed diets containing blood meal supplemented with isoleucine
2008
Tyus, J.II.(Tennessee State Univ., Nashville (USA)) | Nahashon, S.N. | Adefope, N. | Wright, D.
The suitability of blood meal supplemented with isoleucine as protein source for Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) chicks was evaluated. In four replicates, four hundred and eighty SCWL chicks were fed diets containing blood meal with supplemental isoleucine from day-old to 10 weeks of age (WOA). The experimental diets were corn-based with the protein sources being 100% soybean meal (control), 100% blood meal (BM), 50% soybean meal+50% blood meal (SMBM), and 50% alfalfa meal+50% blood meal (AMBM). Blood meal comprised 16.8%, 11.0% and 14.3% of the total ration in BM, SMBM, and AMBM diets, respectively. Experimental birds were provided a 23 hr light regimen and feed and water were provided at free choice. Feed consumption (FC) and body weights (BW), from which feed conversion ratios (FCR) and body weight gains (BWG) were calculated, were measured weekly. Shank lengths (SL) were measured weekly and mortality was recorded as it occurred. Birds fed the BM diet exhibited significantly lower (P0.05) FC, BWG and SL than those on other dietary treatments. Birds fed SMBM were 14% and 8% heavier, consumed 12% and 11% more feed and had 5% lower FCR than those fed BM and AMBM diets, respectively. Percent mortality was highest (P0.05) in birds fed the BM diet when compared with those in other dietary treatments such that BMSMBMAMBM Control. Based on this study, substitution of up to 50 percent of soybean meal with blood meal supplemented with isoleucine in corn-soy based diets did not adversely affect growth performance of SCWL chicks from day-old to 10 WOA.
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