Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) seed meal in poultry diets

The PPSM [pigeonpea seed meal] used in this study had less than half of the crude protein contents but much higher nitrogen-free extract compared to soybean meal. Trypsin inhibitor was most completely eliminated by heat-treatment, while tannin was only partly affected. Heat treatment of the pigeonpea seed decreased the arginine content. On the average PPSM had higher lysine, threonine, phenylalanine, valine and histidine but lower in arginine, tryptophan, isoleucine and leucine compared to soybean meal. The apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and true metabolizable energy (TME) content of PPSM were significantly improved by boiling (2596.0 kcal/kg DM) and roasting (2576.1 kcal/kg DM). However, when the energy values were corrected for nitrogen, significant increase in energy content was obtained only from boiling but not from roasting the PPSM. Broiler experiment 1 showed that the kind and level of PPSM in the diets gave no significant interaction on all of the parameters considered. The kind of PPSM in the diets significantly influenced the feed consumption and feed efficiency but did not significantly affect the weight gain and income over feed and chicks cost. Increased level of PPSM in the diets significantly depressed the body weight gain, feed efficiency and income over feed and chick cost and increased the feed consumption of the broilers. In broiler experiment 2, the kind and level of PPSM and level of methionine in the diets showed no significant interaction on all parameters used. The kind of PPSM in diets did not significantly influence the body weight gain, feed consumption, feed efficiency and dressing percentage but significantly increased the pancreas weight of the broilers. Increase level of PPSM in the diets significantly depressed the body weight gain, feed efficiency and dressing percentage of the broilers. Furthermore, it increased the feed consumption and pancreas weight of the broilers. Supplementation of the PPSM containing diets with 0.15 percent methionine above NRC requirements gave no significant influence on all the parameters. The kind and level of PPSM and level of methionine in the diets showed no significant interaction on all the parameters considered in the layer experiment. Boiling of PPS as well as the supplementation of 0.15 percent methionine above NRC requirement in the diets failed to significantly affect any of the parameters in this study. Increased level of PPSM in the diets significantly depressed egg production, feed efficiency, income over feed cost, egg yolk color score and body weight gain of the pullets