Rapeseed meal (RSM) was treated with CuSO4.5H2O (2g/kg) or FeSO4.7H2O (10g/kg) separately or in combination with or without supplemental iodine (6.67mg/kg). Employing the total excreta collection technique, the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of raw and chemically processed RSM was bio-assayed with 66 male broiler chicks of 42-d of age. The raw or chemically processed RSM was incorporated at 20 or 30% level w/w for the basal portion in a reference diet. An adoption period of 12-d was allowed prior to recording the feed intake by the individual chicken and collection of excreta over the next 4-d period. The diets, dried droppings and test material were assayed for gross energy. Examination of the data revealed that the RSM contained 2186+0.01 and 2154+0.09 AME Kcal/kg on as fed basis, respectively at 20 or 30% level of incorporation. The chemical treatment of RSM signiticantly (P < 0.05) increased the AME value than the raw RSM tested at either levels of inclusion by about 4.53% and 3.0% tollowing its treatment with CuSO4.5H2O and FeSO4.7H2O, respectively.
Rapeseed meal, chemical treatment, metabolizable energy
