Factors Influencing the Growth of Chicks and Poults Fed Rations Containing Rapeseed Oil Meal

Abstract

Rapeseed oil meal depressed the growth of chicks approximately 25% when substituted for 35% soybean oil meal in the ration. Growth was not improved by water treating the rapeseed oil meal or by supplementing it with pyridoxine. Rapeseed oil meal caused an enlargement of the thyroid gland, which was not counteracted by feeding potassium iodide. Protamone added to the ration containing rapeseed oil meal resulted in a thyroid of normal weight but had little or no effect on the growth of the chicks. Rapeseed oil meal was an adequate source of amino acids for chicks when used as the only source of protein. Practical rations containing rapeseed oil meal needed additional lysine for optimum growth of chicks and for optimum growth and feather pigmentation in poults.