WHOLE CANOLA PEA AND WHOLE CANOLA/CANOLA MEAL BLENDS IN DIETS FOR BROILER-CHICKENS .1. EVALUATION OF STEAM-PELLETING OR EXPANSION PROCESSING/

Whole canola blended with whole peas (1:1; WCP) or canola meal (3:1; W CC) provide complementary high energy-protein supplements for poultry feeding. Both WPC and WCC blends were fed with or without processing ( steam-pelleting or expansion) to broiler chicks in a 14-d feeding tria l. Pelleted WCP supported higher body weight gain and feed efficiency than the untreated blend (P < 0.05). Body weight gain and feed efficie ncy obtained with chicks fed pelleted WCP or WCC were similar to those obtained for the expanded blends (P > 0.05), with notable exception o f the expanded WCC which had a lower feeding value. With the pelleted or expanded blends, protein digestibility, N-retention, fat digestibil ity, and AMEN were comparable or improved over the unprocessed blends, again with the exception of the expanded WCC. The processed blends ha d higher gelatinized starch, and lower protein solubility and myrosina se activity index. Protein solubility was very low for the expanded WC C, which is indicative of excessive heat damage. Although the expanded blends had lower glucosinolate content, this did not result in improv ed growth performance over the pelleted blends. It was concluded that the nutritional value of pelleted blends were at least equivalent to t hat of the expanded WCP and WCC for broiler chicks.