Abstract
1. The effect of including rapeseed meal (RSM) in lieu of soyabean meal in broiler diets was determined.
2. Live‐weight gains, from 8 to 63 d, were depressed when the diet contained 150 g RSM/kg and there was a highly significant negative correlation between weight gain and inclusion rate of RSM over this period.
3. The efficiency of food utilisation was worse when the diet included 150 g solvent RSM/kg than when it contained no RSM: food efficiency was consistently poorer whenever RSM was included in the diet but the difference was significant only when the diet contained 10 g tallow/kg.
4. Carcasses from birds fed on diets containing 10 g tallow/kg had a better appearance than those from birds on diets containing 30 g tallow/kg, while the flavour of meat from birds fed on a diet containing 150 g solvent RSM/kg treatment was adversely affected. However, up to 100 g solvent RSM/kg may be included in broiler diets without affecting appearance, taste, texture or acceptability of the meat.
5. Inclusion of 50 g or more, solvent RSM/kg reduced growth rate and worsened food efficiency.
Notes
Present address: Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly, Queensland 4105, Australia.