Egg- qualities ,Organs- weight and Carcass-attributes of laying hens (Gallus domesticus brizzen ) fed Gliricidia sepium leaf meal levels supplemented with Maxigrain

Abstract

Sixty(60) laying hens (Rhode Island Red strains) products were investigated after being fed   Gliricidia leaf meal (GLM) supplemented with Maxigrain^® enzyme  The birds were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments of 12 birds per treatment; each treatment was replicated into 4 groups with 3 birds per replicate. Five experimental diets were formulated; the test ingredient being Gliricidia sepium. Three of the diets were formulated with enzyme  supplementation i.e. diets, C, D, E while diet A(control) was without enzyme supplementation and B( control with enzyme). Gliricidia sepium leaf meal was included at 5%, 7.5% and 10% replacement of dietary soyabean meal in diets C, D and E respectively. The feeding trial lasted for twelve weeks after which egg qualities, organ indices and carcass variables were monitored.   data collected were analysed using One-way ANOVA, Of the egg qualities,apart from henday production, haugh unit, albumin weight and index all other qualities were highest  in 5%GLM,Also the best organ traits indices ,dressed weight was highest in 5%GLM .Concerning carcass characteristics 5%GLM recorded the highest (P<0.05) in all other characters   except  breast, shank, and neck weights 5%GLM supplemented with Maxigrain^® will serve as a potential abundant non-conventional source of ingredients and also as a source poultry products  with high human preference and maximum  satisfaction.

Key words:, Egg-qualities, Gliricidia, Laying-hen, , Maxigrain^®,  ,Organ/Carcass-characteristics,