No abstract

A trial was conducted to evaluate how rapidly one could introduce faba bean in broiler diets and to what maximum level one could feed 3 zero-tannin faba bean cultivars to broiler chickens based on growth performance, carcass traits, and yield of carcass cuts. A total of 662 male broiler chickens (Ross 708) were fed one of 10 dietary treatments over 3 growth phases (starter [ Str ], day 0–12; grower [ Gwr ], day 13–25; and finisher [ Fnr ], day 26–41). Treatment diets included 3 different zero-tannin faba bean cultivars (Snowbird, Snowdrop, and Tabasco), each fed at 3 different inclusions: low inclusion level of 5% in Str, 10% in Gwr, and 20% in Fnr; medium inclusion level of 10% in Str, 20% in Gwr, and 30% in Fnr; and high inclusion level of 15% in Str, 30% in Gwr, and 40% in Fnr. Wheat grain–soybean meal ( SBM ) diets were fed as control. Faba bean cultivars replaced SBM and wheat grain in phase diets. Neither cultivar nor inclusion level affected overall trial or growth phase BW, ADFI, ADG, G:F, slaughter weight ( WT ), chilled carcass WT, and proportion of saleable cuts. Carcass dressing was 0.6% units lower for high vs. medium or low faba bean inclusion level ( P < 0.05). There was no effect on overall trial or growth phase ADFI and there were only slight reductions ( P < 0.05) in BW, ADG, G:F, slaughter WT, chilled carcass WT, dressing percentage, and percentage of drumstick yield in broilers fed the treatment diets including faba bean compared with those fed the wheat–SBM control diet. The control diet's advantage was largely attributed to dehulling and the greater extent of processing to produce SBM vs. feeding raw, merely rolled, faba bean. In conclusion, broiler producers can feed any of the 3 zero-tannin faba bean cultivars evaluated as the most aggressive of the 3 inclusion levels tested (15, 30, 40% for the starter, grower, finisher phase) to maximize faba bean inclusion in broiler diets.

A concern of both pulse growers and poultry producers is how frost damage around harvest time affects the nutritional quality of faba bean for broiler chickens. To investigate, 2 zero-tannin cultivars (Snowbird, Snowdrop) and 1 low vicine and convicine cultivar (Fabelle) sourced from seed growers were spring planted 3 weeks later than recommended (mid-May) and harvested late October to purposely increase frost damage. Parent, certified seed (high quality) and harvested frost damaged beans (low quality) of the 3 cultivars were fed to 740 chickens housed in 64 floor pens in a 2 x 3 factorial plus control (9 pens of 11 or 12 birds per treatment). Starter (d 0 to 11), grower (d 12 to 24) and finisher (d 25 to 40) diets included 15, 30, and 45% faba bean in partial (starter, grower) or total replacement of soybean meal (SBM; control). Harvested Snowbird, Snowdrop, Fabelle averaged 52, 62, 17% blackened hull and 35, 43, 51% immature beans, respectively. There was a cultivar x quality interaction (P &lt; 0.05) on daily feed disappearance (ADFI) and gain-to-feed (G:F). Broilers fed low quality Snowdrop consumed 10 g/d more finisher and 6 g/d more feed overall than those fed low quality Snowbird or Fabelle; broilers fed parent seed were intermediate. Feeding low quality Fabelle resulted in best overall G:F (0.646) vs. high quality Snowbird (0.611), high quality Fabelle (0.624), or low quality Snowdrop (0.624). Average daily weight gain (ADG) and bird body weight (BW) at the end of each growth phase were not affected by cultivar or quality level. Controls fed SBM only grew 2.75 g/d faster overall and were 113.5 g heavier at the end of the trial than broilers fed faba bean (P &lt; 0.05). Controls fed SBM only had 0.024 g/g better overall G:F than broilers fed faba bean (P &lt; 0.05). Feeding low quality beans or high quality seed had no effect on antemortem BW, chilled carcass weight (WT), dressing percentage or yield of saleable cuts except that broilers fed Snowbird or Snowdrop had 0.8%-unit larger thighs than those fed Fabelle. Controls fed SBM only were 110 g heavier at slaughter, had 72 g heavier chilled carcass WT, and 0.5%-unit greater dressing percentage than broilers fed faba bean (P &lt; 0.05). These results indicate that feeding frost damaged and(or) immature faba bean, to the extent observed in this trial, did not negatively affect growth performance or carcass attributes of broiler chickens compared to feeding parent, certified, high quality seed of these cultivars.

No abstract