THE USE OF RUBBER SEED MEAL IN POULTRY II. The Effect of Rubber Seed Meal in Layer Diets

S.W. YEONC. SYED ALI, A. B. and YUSOF, N

SUMMARY

The effect of feeding rubber seetl meal (RSM) at 10. 20, 30, 40 and 50% to replace part of the maize and soybean meal was studied on laying performance. The results showed that over a 50 week trial period there were no significant differences (P<0.05) in egg number, percent hen-day egg production, total egg mass and leed efficiency (feed/gain in egg mass) among the maize-soybean control group and those groups with RSM levels up to 30% in the diets. Significantly poorer results were observed, with 40 and 50% dietary RSM. Egg quality (Haugh Unit) was significantly supertor (P<0.01) with high levels of RSM. It is suggested that this effect could be caused by the supplementary DL-methionine. The chickens tended to gain less body weight (P<0.05) when RSM levels increased. No difference in mortality and no toxic symptoms were observed. It was suggested that RSM could be included in layer diets up to 30% without causing adverse effect on laying performance provided the diet was balanced with sufficient lysine and methionine.

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