The Value of Rapeseed Oil Meal and Sunflower Seed Oil Meal in Chick Starter Rations

PUBLISHED reports on the nutritive value of rapeseed oil meal for livestock and poultry have been reviewed by Bell (1955). According to the evidence cited in this review it appears that rapeseed oil meal, when incorporated into poultry rations at levels of 10% or higher, is goitrogenic and detrimental to growth. Bell also reviewed work of Kratzer et al. (1954) which showed that a ration containing a high level of rapeseed oil meal produced better growth when supplemented with lysine but not when supplemented with iodinated casein, although the latter supplement decreased the weight of the thyroid. Also mentioned was a report by Blakely and Anderson (1948) that poults fed rations containing rapeseed oil meal exhibited some evidence of inadequate lysine intake as judged by slight depigmentation of wing feathers, and showed a thyroid enlargement which was reduced by feeding iodinated casein. In a later publication, Renner, Clandinin and Robblee …