Evaluation of commercial layer feeds and their impact on performance and egg quality

Abstract

One hundred and eight (108) ISA brown hens at 34 weeks of age were used for this study which lasted for 12 weeks. The hens were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (FT₁, FT₂ and FT₃) consisting of four replicates each with nine (9) hens per replicate in a completely randomized design. Three commonly available commercial layers feed were purchased from a sales outfit and were designated as FT₁, FT₂ and FT₃. Each of the three feeds were analysed for calcium, phosphorus and proximate composition. The hen day production (HDP), feed intake, number of eggs produced, feed conversion ratio, feed cost and mortality were recorded/calculated. The egg quality was obtained from samples of three eggs collected from each of the replicate at the end of the study. The results showed that there were significant (P < 0.05) differences in the analyzed moisture and ash content of the feed, and in the declared and analyzed values of the crude fibre, metabolizable energy, ME, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) while the crude protein and fat did not differ. The crude fibre content indicated for all the feeds were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the analyzed content while the declared ME, Ca and P were significantly higher than the analyzed values except for the ME in FT₃. The feeds (FT₁ and FT₂) with the determined high crude fibre content had significantly (P<0.05) better HDP, number of eggs laid per hen, feed conversion ratio and cost of feed per dozen egg. The feed intake of the hens fed the FT₁ and FT₂ were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the FT₃ but did not have any negative effect on the cost of feed per dozen eggs. The egg quality parameters examined showed that the FT₃ feed produced significantly (P<0.05) higher weight of eggs, yolk and weight of the albumen while the other quality indices showed no differences. The study clearly showed the feed manufacturer’s strategy of sustaining their businesses with high fibre content, which still ensures that feed users produce reasonable quantity of eggs. It was concluded that while all the three commercial feeds were useful in the absence of other quality layers’ diets, the agencies concerned with feed regulation in Nigeria must ensure strict compliance with quality standards to enhance the farmers’ confidence in commercial layer’s feed and also boost egg production.

Keywords: Commercial layers’ feed, Egg production, Egg quality, Feed intake, Laying hens, Proximate analysis