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Abstract

A factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the response of broiler breeder hens to various levels of rapeseed meal and enzyme supplementation. Different levels of rapeseed meal (0%,10%, 20% and 30%) at 2 enzyme levels (0 and 17gr/ton) were fed to 47 week-old broiler breeder hens. Birds were randomly allocated to pens of 8 experimental treatments of 3 replicates. Birds were given free access to water but were restricted in diets according to broiler breeder guide recommendations. Egg production, weight, mass, as well as number of hatching eggs, hatchability of total eggs set, infertile eggs, concentration of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and feed intake rates were assessed as breeder carachteristics. None of the rapeseed meal percentages had any significant effect on egg production, weight, egg mass as well as on hatching eggs, except the 30% of rapeseed meal (p<0.05).The effect of different levels of rapeseed meal on hatchability of total eggs set, hatchability of fertile eggs set, and infertile eggs was not significant (P>0.05). Thyroid hormone cocentrations (T3 and T4) were significantly lower for 20% and 30% of rapeseed meal treatments (p<0.05). No significant reaction was observed on the part of the enzyme with the exception of positive reflection on egg weight and egg mass(P>0.05). Interaction of rapeseed meal with enzyme was not significant for any of the traits (P>0.05). Results finally indicate that we can apply upto 20% rapeseed meal in broiler breeder diets without any significant undesirable effects.

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