Rate of Gain and Utilization of Feed as Affected by Different Levels of Coconnt Meal in Starting, Growing, and Fattening Diets for Birds of a Broiler Stock and Laying Strains

Abstract

The results of these studies demonstrate that: 1, Coconut meal contains a high level of crude protein but is deficient in some of the essential amino acids, particularly lysine and methionine-cystine, required by poultry; 2, a caloric deficiency resulted in practical-type diets when a per unit substitution by coconut meal was made of yellow corn; 3, levels of coconut meal (expeller-process) as high as 50 percent were used satisfactorily by broilers in properly-balanced, practical-type, fattening diets; and 4, economic considerations, such as price and availability of ingredients, will determine the amount of coconut meal to incorporate in practical-type poultry feeds up to the limiting level of 50 percent.