The goal of this project is to maximize the use of regional protein sources and more specifically for organically produced laying hens. From recent work from Inagro, ILVO and Proefbedrijf Pluimveehouderij it has been established that field beans and peas can be good alternative protein sources. However, the presence of anti-nutritional factors (ANF) like tannins, glycosides (such as vicine and convicine in faba beans), trypsine and protease inhibitors and a low ileal digestibility of methionine and cysteine of beans limit the inclusion of faba beans in poultry feeds. The processing of these faba beans and the combination of these with cereals is a possible solution to reduce these ANF and to compensate the shortage in certain amino acids.

The general goal of the project is the maximization of the use of faba beans as an alternative protein source in the organically produced laying hens; For this, different research questions will be investigated, such as: 1) to which extent are the ANF of faba beans reduced when these are ensiled as moist beans. Ensiling dried beans that have been wet (25% humidity) is already current practice. Ensiling beans with cereals and the nutritional value of these silages will be affected by the maturation and the ratio between legume and cereals. Hence a second research question is 2) how to improve silage quality of mixed beans and cereals. Here, i) the best ratio between beans and cereals and ii)which silage additives are the most appropriate for optimal silage quality will be investigated. The choice of beans and cereals to be used will take into account which ones are the best for poultry production.

Through feed formulation, the 3) maximal inclusion percentage in laying hens feeds will be determined. Finally, 4) the silage will be assessed as an alternative feedstuff in feeds of organic laying hens regarding digestibility and N-excretion on one side and 5) in terms of performance and egg quality on the other side.