NUTRITIVE EVALUATION OF SQUILLA (Oratosquilla nepa) MEAL IN BROILER CHICKEN DIETS
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Date
2000
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES-MANNUTHY,THRISSUR
Abstract
An experiment was designed and conducted to assess the nutritive value
of squilla {Oratosquilla nepd) meal in broiler chicken diet as an animal protein
source replacing fish meal protein at three levels viz. zero, 50 and 100 per cent with
supplementation of lysine and methionine at 100 per cent level of replacement.
One hundred and eighty one-day old straight-run commercial broiler
chicks were divided into four groups each with three replicates of fifteen birds and
were allotted to four dietary treatments viz. Ti containing 10 per cent unsalted dried
fish (control), T2 in which 50 per cent crude protein fi-om dried fish was replaced
with squilla meal protein, T3 in which 100 per cent crude protein fi-om dried fish
was replaced with squilla meal protein and 14 in which T3 was supplemented with
adequate lysine and methionine as per BIS (1992). The rations were made iso
proteimic and iso-caloric. The chicks were reared under standard managemental
conditions for a period of eight weeks.
The birds fed on 100 per cent squilla meal protein diet in replacement of
fish meal protein attained significantly lower body weight gain (P <0.01) compared
to those in the control (Ti) and 50 per cent squilla meal protein (T2) group at six and
eight weeks. Lysine and methionine supplementation in the 100 per cent squilla
meal protein diet improved the weight gain of birds to a level comparable to those
on 50 per cent squilla meal protein diet.
Feed intake and protein intake of birds on various dietary treatments at
different ages did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). But the feed conversion
efficiency of birds maintained on control diet was significantly higher (P < 0.05) at
six weeks and eight weeks (P < 0.01) than those on 100 per cent squilla meal
protein diet (2.437 vs 2.68 and 2.72 vs 2.93). Protein efficiency ratio of birds
dififered significantly between different treatment groups and the values correlate
well with the body weight gain at different ages.
Slaughter studies revealed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between
the different groups in dressed yield, giblet yield and length of duodenum. However,
the abdominal fat was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in control group of birds, while
the ready-to-cook yield was significantly less (P < 0.05) in 100 per cent squilla meal
protein group.
The apparent metabolisable energy content of different rations and daily
protein retention of birds showed no significant difference between the different
dietary treatments.
The cost of production per kilogram of live weight gain of birds
maintained on the four dietary treatments fi, 12, I3 I4 were Rs. 26.42, 26.24,
27.25 and 27.79 respectively. Though there was a slight decrease in the cost of production of birds due to incorporation of squilla meal in place of unsalted dried
fish at 50 per cent replacement, the difference was insignifieant. However, 100 per cent replacement of fish meal protein with squilla meal protein and amino acid supplementation to the same increased the cost of production (P < 0.01) with no
corresponding increase in performance.
From the results obtained in the present study it was inferred that squilla
meal can be effectively included in broiler chicken diets to replace 50 per cent^fish meal protein witliout affecting growth, feed conversion efficiency and the cost of
production.
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