Production, Interior Egg Quality and Some Physiological Effects of Feeding Raw Soybean Meal to Laying Hens

Abstract

CARVER et al. (1946) reported excellent egg production by hens fed 13% protein all-mash diet containing either raw or heat-treated soybean meal. Fisher et al. (1957) studied utilization of raw soybean meal as the only source of dietary protein for laying hens and concluded that raw meal properly supplemented with methionine and vitamin B12 supported production equal to that obtained with heated meal. Raw soybean meal has been shown by Saxena et al. (1961) to cause growth inhibition, pancreatic hypertrophy and reduced protein efficiency in the chick. Observations on the influence of raw soybean meal on the pancreas in laying hens have not been reported. The present studies were undertaken to obtain additional information on the effects of feeding raw soybean meal to laying hens, particularly with respect to production, interior egg quality and some physiological aspects. Forty-eight S. C. White Leghorn hens were randomly distributed in individual wire…