UTILIZATION OF PIGEONPEA (<I>cajanus cajan</I>) AS A POULTRY FEED 4. SUPPLEMENTATION OF METHIONINE TO HIGH PIGEONPEA DIETS

Abstract

The effect of methionine supplement to diets containing high level of raw ground pigeonpea (pp), as a protein source substituteted to soybean meal, on performance of broilers was carried out in 270 heads 7 day old straight run Hubbard. The birds were randomly allocated to 10 treatments, each with 3 replicates, raised on floor pen and fed ad lib. The experimental diets contained 30,40 and 50% pp with 2900-3000 kcal ME / kg and 21,19,17% CP for birds at 1-3, 3-6, 6-7 weeks old, respectively. The methionine supplement was adjusted to the level of 50, 100 and 150% above the requirement suggested by NRC (1984). They were compared to the control diet (0% pp with 50% methionine above the NRC suggestion).

No significant differences in weight gain were found among groups at week 7 (ranged 2.0-2.2 kg). The increasing feed consumption according to the level of pp caused the significantly higher (P <0.05) feed conversion ratio of the groups as compared to the control. Pancreas weight was also increased, while haematocrit value was not affected. Methionine supplement at the level of 100 and 150% above the recommended level did not improve the feed efficiency of the birds than those fed on 50% methionine diets.