Effects of Different Levels of Solvent Extracted Rapeseed (Brassica Carinata) Meal Replacement to Soybean Meal on the Performance of Broiler Chicks

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing different levels of solvent extracted rapeseed (Brassica carinata) meal (RSM) for soybean meal (SBM) on dry matter (DM) intake, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and economics of commercial broiler chicks. Three hundred thirty day-old Hubbard classic unsexed commercial chicks with initial body weight of 43.56 ± 0.66 g were used for the experiment. Chicks with completely randomized design were distributed to 15 pens of 22 chicks each, which was further randomly distributed to 5 treatment rations. Treatments were replacement of RSM for SBM with the percentage of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. Daily DM intake, during starter phase was reduced beyond 25%, but it was not significantly influenced up to 50% during the finisher phase. The final and daily body weight gain, weight of breast, drumstick-thigh, liver and gizzard for the entire experimental period were significantly reduced (P<0.001) beyond 25% replacement of RSM for SBM. In general, replacement of solvent extracted RSM for SBM beyond 25% hampered growth rate, reduced marketable carcass parts and resulted in enlargement of some edible and non-edible carcass offal. Keywords: Broiler, performance, Glucosinolate, Brassica Carinat