Value of <i>Anthonotha macrophylla</i> leaf meal as feed ingredient on layer performance and egg quality

Abstract

Four layer diets were formulated containing 0,5,10 and 15% Anthonotha macrophylla leaf meal. One hundred and twenty Babcock brown layers already 20 weeks in lay were randomized into 4 groups and each assigned to one of the experimental diets for 12 weeks. The hens were examined for performance using body weight, feed intake, hen-day egg production, egg weight and feed conversion ratio. The interior quality of eggs was also assessed. Average feed intake ranged from 0.136 to 0.146 kg, hen day egg production from 64.29 to 67.99% and feed conversion ratio from 3.43 to 5.11. Statistical analysis showed that birds on 10 and 15% levels of inclusion performed poorly in body weight change and feed intake. No significant (p>0.05) difference was observed across the treatments in final body weight and hen-day egg production. Birds on 15% inclusion level showed significant (p0.05) difference in Haugh unit, yolk index and shell thickness. Based on these results it was concluded that Anthonothamacrophylla leaf meal can be incorporated into layer diets up to 15% inclusion level without depression in performance and on egg quality. Keywords: Chicken, Anthonotha macrophylla, leaf meal, layer performanceIJOTAFS Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 94-96