Uchegbu M.C., Herbert U., Ogbuewu I.P., Nwaodu C.H., Esonu B.O., Udedibie A.B.I.
Performance and egg quality characteristics of layers fed diets containing combinations of brewers dried grains, jack bean and cassava root meal [Rendimiento y características de la calidad del huevo de gallinas ponedoras alimentadas con dietas que contie
Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Uchegbu, M.C., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Herbert, U., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Ogbuewu, I.P., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Nwaodu, C.H., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Esonu, B.O., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Udedibie, A.B.I., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
The performance, egg quality characteristics and feed cost of layers fed combinations of maize/sorghum-based brewers dried grains (MSBDG), jack bean (JB) and cassava root meal (CRM) in replacement of maize. Four treatment diets: LD1, LD2, LD3 and LD4 were formulated such that they contained maize, MSBDG, JB and CRM in the following proportions: 50, 0, 0, 0%; 0, 10, 15, 25%; 0, 10, 20, 20% and 0, 10, 25, 15% respectively. Ninety six Shika Brown layers were divided into 4 treatment groups of 24 birds each and each group subdivided into 3 replicates of 8 birds. The birds were randomly assigned to the diets in a completely randomized design experiment. Nine eggs were selected from each treatment group on the last day of the 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th week for egg quality analysis. The egg weight of LD2 birds was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of LD3 birds. The birds on LD1 had superior feed conversion ratio value which was significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of LD2 and LD3 birds. The Haugh unit for LD1 and LD2 birds were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of LD3. The shell thickness value for LD1 birds differed significantly (p<0.05) with that of LD4 birds. All the other parameters measured were similar among the groups. In terms of feed cost required to produce 1kg egg, MSBDG/JB/CRM diets were cheaper, being 6.27%, 5.59% and 14.42% lower than the cost of feed required to produce 1kg egg for LD1 diet.