Effect of dietary dilution with sunflower seed hulls on the performance ofbroilers

The influence of sunflower seed hulls (SSH) on the performance of broilers was studied. In diets, maize at 960 g kg(-1), sunflower seed meal (SFM) at 400 g kg(-1) and SSH at 107.1 g kg(-1) was incorporated. The ME content of the three diets: was determined in White Leghorn cocks kept in cages by mod ified European reference method. The performance of chicks was studied on m aize-soybean meal (SBM) and maize-SFM diets containing 0, 60 and 120 g SSH over and above each kg of diet. Each diet was fed to 3 groups of 5 broiler males from 14 to 34 days age. The nutrient intake excluding SSH within maiz e-SBM and maize-SFM diets: was maintained equal, based on feed intake on di ets having 120 S SSH fed to similar groups of chicks the previous day (3 gr oups of chicks on each diet). SFM partially decorticated contained 358 g crude protein, 216 g crude fiber , 6 g ether extract, 60 g ash and 360 g nitrogen free extract, while SSH co ntained 30 g crude protein, 608 g crude fiber, 18 g ether extract, 26 g ash and 318 g nitrogen free extract kg(-1). The AMEn of the ingredients on dry matter was 15.32 kJ g(-1) for maize, 9.58 kJ g(-1) for SFM and 5.07 kJ g(- 1) for SSH. Considering zero AMEn for SSH, the AMEn of SFM was 11.0 kJ g(-1 ). The crude fiber content in maize-SBM and maize-SFM diets was 37.3 and 10 9 g kg(-1) respectively. The fiber content increased to 73.7 and 110 g kg(- 1) in maize-SBM diets and to 145.4 and 181.1 g kg(-1) in maize-SFM diets on including SSH at 60 and 120 g kg(-1), respectively. The added fiber did no t cause any adverse effect on the weight gain and livability of broilers, T he weight gain of chicks (14-34d) on SBM diets (40.2 to 41.0 g b(-1) d(-1)) was significantly (P < 0.05) better than on SFM diets (38.2 to 38.7 g b(-1 ) d(-1)) due to higher nutrient density. The fiber added through SSH acted as an inactive diluent of the diet.