Evaluation the effects of different levels of dried lemon (Citrus aurantifulia) pulp on performance of broilers and laying hens

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of dried lemon pulp (DLP) on performance of broilers and laying hens. In first experiment, 240 of broilers (Ross-308) were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 3 replicates (with 20 birds in each replicate) from 1 to 42 days. The amounts of DLP in diets were 0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5 percentage. In the second experiment, 144 Hyline (W36) of laying hens were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 3 replicates (with 12 birds in each replicate) from 65 to 77 weeks. The amounts of DLP in laying hens diets were 0, 2, 4 and 6 percentage. Different levels of dried lemon pulp in diets had significant effects on performance of broilers and laying hens (P<0.05). Adding DLP into broiler diets, significantly increased the amount of feed intake. Also it significantly increased the amount of daily weight gain in starter and whole experiment periods but it had adverse effect on feed conversion. Using 3% DLP significantly decreased the abdominal fat. In laying hens, adding DLP until 4% of diets, significantly improved their performance. The overall results showed that in broilers, using DLP until 4.5% in starter period diets, without any adverse effects on their performance is possible, but in grower period had adverse effect on feed conversion. In laying hens using DLP until 4 % in diets, can improve their performance.