Economical evaluation of raw legume grain meals and their potential use inpoultry feeding

The use of grain meals of legume species: soybean (Glycine max), dolicho (L ablab purpureus), mucuna (Mucuna sp.), canavalia (Ensiformis LDC), winged b ean (Psofcarpus tretazonalabus), and vigna (Vigna unguiculnta) was economic ally evaluated using establishment, harvest and grain meal yield data. The economical feasibility was studied by incorporating each one to a standard diet for broilers substituting of soybean cake. From these results and due to its greater production potential in Cuba, Vigna was selected for the per formance test in broilers and the economical effect of its inclusion in the diet while the addition of synthetic amino acids (DL-methionine and L-lysi ne) in the finishing stage was also analysed. Costs of the grains evaluated ranged between 65 and 185 Cuban pesos/t. Likewise, diets with these meals were cheaper than the control (T-1) and showed that even when feed conversi on worsened, their use was economically feasible. Vigna meal in diets with synthetic amino acids (SAA) throughout the rearing period (T-2) or with SAA in the finishing stage (T-3) reduced costs (Cuban pesos/t) of liveweight p roduced by 0.0305 and 0.0111 compared to T-1. But since there were no diffe rences between T-2 and T-3, it would be feasible not to include SAA in the finishing stage, when they are not available, since the productive performa nce is not affected and costs are only increased by 0.0094 Cuban pesos with respect to T-2 These results show the economical possibilities of legumes as alternatives to partially substitute the plant protein sources tradition ally used in poultry feeds.