Chemical composition and nutritive value of ambadi ( Hibiscus cannabinus) meal for layers

Abstract

Ambadi ( Hibiscus cannabinus) meal was assessed for its nutritive value and utilization in layers. Ambadi metal was poorer in protein (285 vs. 429 g kg −1) and protein digestibility (615 vs. 707 g kg −1) and lower in available carbohydrate content (143.4 vs. 213 g kg −1) than peanut meal. The metabolizable energy content of ambadi meal was low (8.68 MJ kg −1). Threonine (4.19 vs. 3.68 g 16 g N −1), methionine (1.25 vs. 1.02 g 16 g N −1) and tryptophan (1.92 vs. 1.09 g 16 g N −1) were higher in ambadi protein than in peanut meal protein. Available lysine (2.93 vs. 2.99 g 16 g N −1) and gross protein value (54 vs. 56) were similar in ambadi and peanut meal proteins. Linoleic acid content (481 vs. 283 g kg −1) was more in ambadi residual oil than in peanut residual oil. Ambadi meal had higher crude fibre content (214 vs. 101 g kg −1) as well as neutral detergent fibre (530 vs. 163 g kg −1), acid detergent fibre (317 vs. 135 g kg −1) and lignin (88.5 vs. 15.9 g kg −1) than peanut meal. The performance of White Leghorn layers at 34–53 weeks of age was studied including ambadi meal in diets at 0, 61.1, 122.2, 183.3 and 244.4 g kg −1 at the expense of the peanut meal of the reference diet (162.5 g kg −1). Ambadi meal had no significant ( P>0.05) effect on hen-day egg production (0.69 to 0.73 vs. 0.70 eggs per hen day −1), feed intake (111 to 114 vs. 108 g hen −1 day −1) and feed efficiency (350 to 369 vs. 364 g egg kg −1 food) when compared with those on the reference diet. Egg quality in terms of shell thickness, albumen index and Haugh unit score due to various levels of ambadi meal in the diet was similar to those on the reference diet. Yolk index values improved significantly ( P>0.05) on ambadi meal diets. Weights of liver, spleen, pancreas and kidney were unaffected ( P>0.05) by dietary ambadi meal. Erythrocytes, leucocytes, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum proteins, serum calcium and serum phosphorus were similar on ambadi meal and peanut meal diets.