Whole canola/pea and whole canola/canola meal blends in diets for broiler chickens 2. Determination of optimal inclusion levels

Whole canola/pea (WCP, 1:1 wt/wt) or whole canola/canola meal (WCC, 3:1 wt/wt) were heat-processed using a commercial pellet mill prior to incorporation in broiler starter (0–20 d) and finisher diets (20–40 d). The pelleted blends readily disintegrated in the preparation of the mash diets. Body weight gain of broilers (0–40 d) fed WCP (0, 10, 20, or 30%) or WCC (0, 5, 10, or 15%) declined linearly with level of dietary inclusion (P < 0.01). Feed intake declined curvilinearly (P < 0.01) with both blends, with lower intake most apparent at the higher inclusion levels. Feed/gain increased for broilers fed WCP or WCC (P < 0.01). Overall broiler mortality declined incrementally with inclusion of WCP (P < 0.07) or WCC (P < 0.03) in the diet. Although there was no distinct limitation on the dietary inclusion levels of either blend, the low feed intake with broilers fed 15% WCC indicated that its level should not exceed 10% of the diet. Key words: Canola seed, canola meal, peas, broiler chickens