EVALUATION OF MEADOWFOAM (Limnanthes alba) MEAL AS A FEEDSTUFF FOR BROILER CHICKS AND WEANLING RABBITS
Limnanthes alba or meadowfoam is a potential new oilseed crop, containing glucosinolates. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate meadowfoam meal (MFM) as a feedstuff for broiler chicks and weanling rabbits. In experiment 1, chicks were fed, for 6 wk, diets in which 30% of the dietary protein in the control diet was supplied by raw MFM, steam-cooked MFM (SC), SC plus 3% sodium carbonate (SC +), or aqueous-extracted MFM (EXT). Average daily gain (ADG) was lower (P < 0.01) for raw MFM than for other treatments; the ADG for the other MFM groups was similar to the control value. In experiment 2, chicks were fed diets in which SC isonitrogenously replaced 50% of the soybean meal in the control diet. Treatments were dietary additions of iodine, iodinated casein, and lysine. ADG was reduced (P < 0.01) on all diets containing SC. In both experiments, liver and thyroid weights at 6 wk were increased on all diets containing SC, except for the iodinated casein addition which decreased thyroid weights. Organ weights on EXT were similar to controls. In experiment 3, weanling rabbits were fed diets in which raw MFM supplied 20 and 40%, and SC supplied 20, 40, 60 and 80%, of the dietary protein. ADG was similar to controls when SC-MFM supplied 20 or 40% of the protein, but was less (P < 0.05) at the 60% and 80% levels. At the 20 and 40% levels of raw MFM, ADG was decreased (P < 0.05) compared with controls.