Navy beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) as a protein source in layer diets

Abstract

The effects of raw versus steamed navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) meal, in diets with and without methionine supplementation, on egg production, egg weight, body weight, pancreas weight, mortality, feed consumption and conversion, and energy and nitrogen utilization were determined with laying hens. As the level of raw navy bean meal in the diet increased, egg mass production and body weight gain decreased. Declines in production were largely overcome by steaming the bean meal. Methionine supplementation of both raw and steamed meal diets had no effect on performance. Changes in dietary metabolizable energy and nitrogen retention are discussed in relation to bird performance.