Canola as poultry protein
The demand for white meat in poultry has increased dramatically in the last 10 years. For producers that means looking at ways to improve breast yield.
“Soybean meal is currently the primary protein source for commercial broiler diets in Alberta,” says Martin Zuidhof, poultry specialist with Alberta Agriculture. “Soybean is not grown locally and that gives regions where it is grown a competitive advantage.”
A two-year project to investigate the potential for higher levels of locally grown canola as a protein source in broiler diets started in May. There is evidence that small differences in nutrient composition can result in greater white meat yield in broilers. However, there is relatively little published research available.
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To determine what effect diets high in canola meal have on carcass conformation and on the sensory quality of broiler meat, several diets will be tested.
The control diet will use soybean meal as the primary protein source. Test diets will use 10 and 20 percent canola meal, with soybean as the balance of required protein. Both barley and wheat-based diets will be tested.
“Individual body weights, group body weights, variability in body weights, growth rates, and feed conversion efficiency will all be monitored,” adds Zuidhof. “As well as the overall conformation information being gathered, this project will determine the relative breast yield usable for portion-controlled breast meat products.
A trained taste panel will evaluate light and dark meat for odor, flavor, juiciness, tenderness and overall acceptability. A report will be made available on this project in the summer of 1997. Producers can get results as they are made available on the internet at http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/livestock/poultry/index.html.
– Alberta Agriculture
