Evaluation of Soybean Hulls in Grower Turkey Diets

Abstract

A 42 day study was carried out to evaluate the effect of soybean hulls (SBH) in diets of grower turkeys. Four experimental turkey grower diets were formulated such that soybean hulls made up of 0.0 (control diet), 10.0, 20.0 and 30.0% of the diets respectively replacing maize and soybean meal. These diets were offered randomly to ninety six (96), six week old black coloured local turkeys divided into four groups of 24 birds each replicated 3 times with 8 birds per replicate in a completely
randomized design experiment. Results indicated that grower turkeys on the diet (0.0% SBH) produced significantly (p<0.05) higher weight gain and better, though similar (p>0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those fed 10.0, 20.0 and 30.0% SBH diets. Feed intake increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing dietary level of SBH among all the treatment groups. There were significant (p<0.05) decreases in feed cost per kg with increasing SBH in the diet. However, feed cost per kg weight gain were similar (p>0.05) for turkeys fed diets containing 0.0 and 10.0% SBH
and those on 10.0, 20.0 and 30.0% SBH diets. It appears that Soybean hulls at 10.0, 20.0 and 30.0% dietary levels depressed body weight gain and increased feed intake of grower turkeys significantly. Nevertheless, 0.0 and 10.0% dietary SBH produced similar (p>0.05) feed cost per kg weight gain.