Inclusion of Rapeseed Meal in the Broiler Diets based on Maize-Soybean or Maize-Pearl Millet-Soybean Meal

Day-old broiler chicks (n=240) were distributed into 24 groups of 10 each. Eight dietary treatments were designed, incorporating solvent extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) at 0, 5, 10 and 15% level, replacing soybean meal in diets based on maize alone or 50% of maize replaced with whole pearl millet at fixed calorie-protein ratio. Separate diets were formulated for 0–4 weeks starting and 4–7 weeks finishing periods. Each dietary treatment was offered to three groups of birds. The feed intake and body weight gains were recorded weekly. A metabolism trial was conducted at 6th weeks of age. At the end of the trial, eight birds were randomly selected and sacrificed to evaluate carcass traits. The results indicated no significant differences in weight gain, feed intake or FCR between treatments. However, the combination of rapeseed meal with maize and pearl millet was better than maize alone. The dry matter and energy metabolizability and nitrogen retention were similar in all the treatments. The carcass, organ yield and cut up parts though differed significantly among dietary treatments, were similar to that of maize-soya based control. The broilers on rapeseed meal had apparently higher heart yield. Incorporation of 15% RSM in maize-based diet or 10 or 15% RSM in maize-pearl millet based diet have reduced the feed cost of production. The results indicated that solvent extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) could safely be included up to 15%, replacing part of soybean meal in maize or maize-pearl millet based broiler chicken diet.