RT Journal
T1 EFFECT OF DIETARY COMPOST LEVELS ON PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE, EGG QUALITY AND IMMUNE RESPONSE OF LAYING HENS
A1 M. T. Khan
A1 S. Mehmood
A1 A. Mahmud
A1 K. Javed
A1 Saima
A1 J. Hussain
A1 Y. A. Ditta
A1 M. Waqas
JF Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
JO JAPS
SN 1018-7081
VO 29
IS 2
SP 402
OP 411
YR 2019
FD 2019/04/01
DO DOI NA
AB <p>A study was executed to explore the effect of dietary compost level on performance, egg quality, and immune response of laying hens. A total of 150 laying hens (18-week old) were distributed among 5 dietary groups comprising 5 replicates of 6 birds each, under a completely randomized design (CRD). The experimental diets consisted of increasing levels of compost (0. 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10%), with each diet being iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. The recorded data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA under CRD. Hen performance parameters, including feed consumption, body weight, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed efficiency, livability, and uniformity percentage, were not affected (P &gt; 0.05) by the level compost supplement included in the diet. Although, birds fed the diet containing 10% compost exhibited slightly lower egg production and egg weight compared to other treatments, statistically these differences were non-significant (P &gt; 0.05). Similarly, egg quality and immune response in birds fed diets with 10% compost were numerically lowest, but no statistical differences were seen across treatment (P &gt; 0.05). Birds fed diets containing compost 10% showed the lowest (P = 0.0001) feed cost per kg egg mass. These data indicate that compost can be utilized in layer rations at up to 10% with no negative effects on performance, egg quality, and immune response. Furthermore, the utilization of compost in layer rations may reduce feed cost per kg egg mass.</p>
K1 compost, laying hen, performance, egg quality, immune response
PB Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum
LK https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2019-JAPS-208