The Effect of Incorporating Different Levels of Locally Produced Canola Seeds ( Brassica napus, L.) In the Diet of Laying Hen

摘要

Research in King Faisal University proved that canola seeds can be successfully planted in Al-Hassa area of Saudi Arabia. The objectives of this study were to determine the chemical analysis and metabolizable energy of a locally produced full fat canola seeds (LPFFCS). Also to determine the possibility of using locally produced canola seeds in the layer diet. The chemical analysis of the seeds showed that it contained 95.4% DM, 25.6% CP, 38.2% EE, 4% ash and 6.8% CF. ME, calculated from the determined TME showed a 4128 Kcal/kg value. Essential and non-essential amino acid s were also determined as well as Na, Cl, Ca, P, Cu. Zn and Fe. It was concluded that with the exception of protein level canola seeds are very much similar to SBM in many aspects. Five levels of whole canola seeds; 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30% were used in the diets of 100 white leghorn pullets at age of 20 weeks. The results of this experiment showed that including up to 10% whole canola in the layer diet made no harm to the performance of these birds in terms of hen-day egg production, egg mass, feed conversion and egg weight. Feed intake increased with increasing level of canola seeds in the diet. However most of these differences were season dependent. Hen-day production, egg mass and egg weight were very much lower when birds fed 30% canola. The highest production rate was found in the fall season when birds fed 5 and 10% canola seeds (90 and 88%, respectively). No specific trend was observed on the effect of canola on egg specific gravity and yolk index. However, haugh unit was higher, yolk color was darker, weight gain was lower in birds fed 30% canola seeds. It was concluded that incorporating up to 5% LPFFCS in the layer diet might benefit the producer if economically priced.