RAPESEED CAKE IN DIETS OF BROILER CHICKS

A trial was conducted to test the use of rapeseed 00 cake in a mash for broilers as a replacement of soybean meal. Three amounts of rapeseed cake were tested - 5%, 10% and 15% (R 5, R 10, R 15), corresponding to 1.3, 2.6, 3.9 mmol/l, resp., dietary glucosinolates. Control mash R 0 did not contain any rapeseed. Tab. I shows mash formulations; feed mash BR1 was given to all groups. Each group comprised 250 chicks of ROSS hybrid in four replications. First, the broilers received loose feed mash BR1 until the 14th day of age, then granular feed mash BR2 until 42nd day of age. The mashes were administered ad libitum. The chicks were kept in boxes on deep litter. Tab. II shows the results obtained in the trial. As for the growth indicator, better results were recorded continually in the groups with 5% and 10% of rapeseed cake than in the control, the group receiving 15% rapeseed had the same parameters as the control. The groups R 5 and R 10 had the best results of feed conversion. Experimental treatments did not influence dressing percentage, and there were no differences in sensory evaluation of meat - breast muscle. The use of 5% and/or 10% of rapeseed cake is economically advantageous. The amounts of 5 to 10% rapeseed cake can be recommended on the basis of this research and it is possible to conclude that the glucosinolate concentration lower than 4 mmol/kg does not cause any growth depression nor does it decrease feed conversion.