Different level of blood meal in broilers diet

What is it about?

Fresh blood was boiled at 100°C for 45 min and then dried in an hot air oven at 55°C for 6 days and ground into meal. The chemical composition of the dried blood meal was 92% dry matter, 80% crude protein, 8.5% total ash, 1.2% ether extract, 1.3% crude fibre, 9% nitrogen free extract, 0.28% calcium, 0.25% phosphorus, 1.98% sodium chloride and 2850 Kcal/ kg metabolizable energy. Amino acid profile revealed that sufficient quantity of almost all essential amino acids was present in blood meal. Chemical score of the blood meal was 13. Isoleucine was the Ist limiting amino acid and methionine was the 2nd limiting amino acid. Five different isonitrogenous and isocaloric experimental mash diets were prepared with five levels 0, 3, 4, 5 and 6% of blood meal. Weight gain was higher in chickens fed diets containing 3% blood meal during two stages of growth. Feed intake during 0-42 weeks of age was reduced in chickens fed diets with 3% level of blood meal. Similarly, feed utilization efficiency was better in chickens fed diet containing 3% blood meal compared to all other treatment groups. Also 3% blood meal in diet improved apparent faecal digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and ether extract. Dressing percentage and relative weight of liver of chickens among all treated groups were similar. The results indicated that inclusion of blood meal (3%) in broiler diets reduced the relative cost per unit weight gain. It may be suggested that blood meal upto 3% can be incorporated in broiler diets without any adverse effect on production parameters during starting and finishing stages of growth.

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Why is it important?

When we compare blood meal with vegetable protein supplements for poultry it is quite high in biological value. Generally vegetable protein supplements are deficient in two of the essential amino acids which are lysine and methionine, whereas blood meal is rich in both of these amino acids. Today, mostly blood meal is being used as by-pass protein ingredient in ruminant diet.Little information is available of blood meal use in broiler diet.

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