A total number of 180 Sinai growing hens 10 weeks of age were used in an experiment lasted up to 18 weeks of age. The experiment aimed to study the utilization of feeding growing hens on different levels of olive pulp meal (OPM) under desert conditions. Experimental birds were divided randomly into four equal experimental treatments (45 in each treatment) and randomly divided into three equal replicates (15 hens each).The first treatment was fed the basal diet as a control (0 % OPM), while the other three treatments were fed diets containing either 4, 8 or 12 % OPM, respectively. Experimental diets were formulated to be iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous and were formulated in granular form. Results obtained could be summarized as follows: The final live body weight and body weight gain during the whole experimental period were decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing dietary OPM level in the diet. The highest live body weight and body weight gain were recorded by using 8 % OPM, while, those fed on 12 % recorded the lowest one.
It is worthy noting that feed intake decreased with increasing of OPM levels. Moreover, feed conversion ratio became significantly worst (P< 0.05) with OPM level up to 12% in the diets. Digestibility coefficients of CP, CF, EE, NFE and the nutritive values expressed as DCP, TDN % and ME (kcal/kg) were significantly (P<0.05) varied among the experimental treatment. The level of 8% OPM recorded the best net return and the percentage of economical efficiency of feed. Data of amino acids content of OPM showed that Methionine was the first limiting essential amino acid, while, lysine were the second limiting amino acids.
In conclusion, from the nutritional and economical efficiency stand points of view, up to 8% OPM could be recommended to be used successfully and safely when formulating diet for Sinai local growing hens without adversely affecting their performance.