Co-Authors:
Bornstein, S., Division of Poultry, Institute of Agriculture, Rehovot, Israel
Lipstein, B., Division of Poultry, Institute of Agriculture, Rehovot, Israel
Abstract:
Two experiments were performed in order to compare solvent‐extracted soya‐bean oil meals produced by regular dry‐heat desolventising (yielding an underprocessed meal) with those meals produced by wet‐desolventising (yielding a ‘toasted’ meal). In both trials egg production and body weight gain were markedly reduced by the use of underprocessed soya‐bean meal as the only protein supplement in the diet. Part of the deleterious effect on egg production was counteracted by supplementation with fish meal, whereas methionine supplementation of all‐vegetable diets was less effective. It is proposed that the above detrimental effects of underprocessed soya‐bean meal for layers is mainly due to lowered feed intake by many birds, and that the chief beneficial effect of fish meal in such diets is the maintenance of normal feed consumption. The results obtained also indicate that suboptimal levels of dietary methionine are liable to decrease egg size. Copyright © 1963 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd