Abstract

    A total of 630 mixed sex day-old broiler chickens were reared for 7 weeks to study the production performance by feeding different levels of rapeseed meal (RSM) and canola meal (CM) in their diets. The chickens were randomly allocated to seven dietary treatment groups (A, B, C, D, E, F and G) having three replicates of 30 birds in each group.  Group A was fed control diet (soyabean meal), whereas groups B, D and F were fed diets containing 5, 10 and 15 percent RSM which was replaced with CM on weight basis in the diets  fed to groups C, E and G, respectively. Experimental diets and fresh water were offered ad libitum. Feed intake during 0-28 days of age was higher (p<0.05) in all chicken groups except those fed 10 and 15% CM and 15% RSM. Weight gain and feed utilization efficiency from 0-28 days and 0-49 days was better (p<0.05) in chickens fed diet containing soybean meal (control) and 5% CM compared to all other treatment groups. Although during 29-49 days of age, both RSM and CM inclusion upto 10% in diets did not affect weight gain but lower (p<0.05) weight gain was observed in groups fed 15% RSM and 15% CM. However, difference between 15% RSM and 15% CM was significant (p<0.05). Overall feed intake, dressing percentage and liver weight of chickens among all treated groups were found to be similar (p>0.05). The study suggests that RSM up to 5% and CM up to 10% can be incorporated in broiler starter diets and both RSM and CM can be used up to 10% in finisher diets without any adverse effect on production parameters.

Key words: Rapeseed meal, canola meal, broiler performance, carcass characteristics.