Chemical Composition and Nutritional Value of Brazilian Elodea (Egeria densa) for the Chick
1984
MAURICE, D. V. | Jones, J. E. | DILLON, C. R. | WEBER, J. M.
Three experiments were conducted using broiler chicks to evaluate the aquatic weed Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa) as a potential feed ingredient. Chemical analyses of the sun-dried Brazilian elodea meal (BEM) provides proximate analysis values, amino acid, and mineral composition. The product was superior to corn and soybean meal with respect to calcium, phosphorus, and trace elements with potassium at 3.28%. In Experiment 1, chicks fed 5% BEM pelleted diet exhibited a growth response, but 10% BEM depressed growth. Relative weight of heart, liver, proventriculus, and ventriculus was not influenced by BEM in the diet. Spleen weight decreased linearly with 5 and 10% BEM inclusion in the diet. Hepatic lipid, copper, lead, and zinc levels were not influenced by dietary BEM. Hepatic manganese increased in response to dietary increase in manganese due to BEM. The growth response with 5% BEM was not realized in Experiment 2 when the amount of added fat was kept constant in all diets. In Experiment 3, broilers were fed 5 and 10% BEM to 7 weeks of age. Performance and dressing percentage of birds grown to slaughter age was not impaired by feeding 5% BEM. However, the response to 10% BEM was similar to the 3 week data. Sun-dried BEM may be used in broiler diets at 5% with no adverse effects on growth, feed efficiency, or dressing percentage.
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