THE VALUE OF SUNFLOWER SEED OIL MEAL AS A PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT FOR LAYING HENS

Abstract

Two experiments, involving 324 pullets confined to individual cages and 630 pullets in floor pens, were conducted to determine the value of commercial sunflower seed oil meal as the major protein supplement in laying rations.In rations containing 2.0 or 2.5 per cent fish meal, the complete replacement of other supplementary protein sources with sunflower seed oil meal had no influence on mortality, egg production, egg weight or body weight maintenance. However, feed consumption tended to be higher when meat meal was replaced by its protein equivalent of sunflower seed oil meal, and by an equivalent amount of mineral supplement.