The effect of fermented canola meal on performance, nutrient digestibility, blood ‎parameters, tibia mineralization and intestinal characteristics of broiler chickens

This study intended to investigate the effects of canola meal fermentation on its nutritional characteristics and broiler chickens growth performance using Lactobacillus fermentum and Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus oryzae. In this experiment, 280 male Ross day-old chicks were randomly assigned to 7 experimental treatments with 4 replicates containing 10 chicks each. Treatments included control diet, canola meal and fermented canola meal at 3 levels (5, 10 and 15%) each. Results indicated that fermentation of canola meal reduced the amount of glucosinolates and amino acids methionine and cysteine by 50%, while its sulfur content increased about 50% and protein content of fermented canola meal increased by 2.2%. At the level of 15%, processed and unprocessed canola meal had no effect on growth performance, weight of carcass parts, tibia mineralization and nutrient digestibility in grower, finisher and whole period .It is concluded that fermented canola meal increased TSH and ACTH levels. Also intestinal viscosity increased with consumption of both types of meal (P <0.05) but had no effect on jejunal morphology and ileum pH. canola meal meal (processed or unprocessed) can be used up to 15% in broiler diets without any adverse effect. However fermentation process reduces the glucoseinolate level significantly.