The Effect of Different Levels of Soybean Hull on Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Blood Parameters in Broiler Chickens

The current study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of soybean hull on performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broiler chickens from the age of 1 to 42 days. A total of 240 day-old broiler chickens (Ross 308) which were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments with 5 replicates of 12 birds in each replicate. Experimental treatments were control diet and diets containing 2.5, 5 and 7.5% of soybean hull. Results of present study showed that, adding the soybean hull decreased linearly and quadratically (P<0.05) the average daily feed intake (ADFI) at starter, grower and the whole period, Inclusion of soybean hull in broilers diets reduced quadratically (P=0.02130) the average daily weight gain (ADWG) at starter period. The addition of soybean hull at grower period and the whole of period improved linearly and quadratically. (P<0.05) the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control treatment. Supplementing 5 percent of soybean hull in broilers diet significantly (P<0.05) increased the production efficiency factor (PEF) compared with the control diet. None of the carcass characteristics of broiler chickens were affected by experimental treatments (P>0.05). Also, different levels of soybean hull had no significant effect on blood parameters (P>0.05). The concentrations of Alanine aminotransferase in broiler chickens fed 2.5% soybean hull was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.01).  In general, the results of present study indicated that due to the positive impact of soybean hull on conversion ratio and production efficiency factor, it can be used up to 5% in broiler diets.