Performance of laying hens on diets containing Eurolysine bacterial protein or Pekilo protein

Authors

• Matti Näsi Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Helsinki, 00710 Helsinki 71

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72106

Abstract

The investigation was made to determine to what extent soybean meal and fish meal protein in the diet of laying hens can be replaced by Eurolysine bacterial protein, a by-product of lysine fermentation, or with Pekilo protein. In a 24-week laying trial the inclusion levels of Eurolysine in the diet were 0-4.0- 7.9- 11.9 % and those of Pekilo 0-6.3- 12.7 - 18.0 %, or 0-33-66-100 % of the protein supplement. Eurolysine contained 68.5 % crude protein 53.5 % true protein and 6.9 % ether extract in DM and the corresponding values of Pekilo were 43.3 %, 38,8 % and 1.4 %. The average laying rates decreased with increasing inclusion of Eurolysine, and replacement of the protein supplement by Pekilo also lowered egg production, but the differences between the treatments were not significant (P > 0.05). Feed intakes were increased (P < 0.05) by inclusion of SCP. Feed conversion efficiency did not differ significantly among the treatments (P > 0.05). Mortality increased with inclusion of both types of SCP in the diets, but the principal cause of death was cannibalism.