CANOLA MEAL FOR LAYING HENS

Abstract

Laying hens were fed a corn, barley, soybean meal control diet and similar diets in which 10% of canola meal replaced an equal amount of soybean meal protein. One of the canola diets was kept equal in energy to the control diet by the addition of extra dietary fat, while the energy content was allowed to fall for an alternate treatment. While there were slight differences in performance, the main effect noted was a reduction in egg size for birds fed the canola diets. Fatty acid composition of egg yolk, liver and abdominal fat did not differ significantly between the three dietary treatments. In a second trial 10% canola meal was substituted on an isocaloric basis, into a corn-soybean meal basal diet. Over a 48-wk laying period, birds fed canola meal consumed less feed than those fed the soybean meal control which resulted in fewer eggs and also smaller egg size (P < 0.05). Key words: Laying hens, canola meal, egg composition