Effect of replacing groundnut seedcake by brewers’ yeast-noug seed cake mixture in ration on laying performance of white leghorn chicken

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate effect of replacing groundnut seed cake with brewers’ yeast-noug seed cake (BYNSC) mixture on laying performance of white leghorn chickens. 180 white leghorn layers (28 weeks) were used in a completely randomized design. Five treatment rations in 3 replications with 12 hens were prepared. The treatments were replacing groundnut meal (T1 (0% BYNSC + 18% groundnut cake meal), T2 (4.5% BYNSC + 13.5% groundnut cake meal), T3 (9% BYNSC + 9% groundnut cake meal), T4 (13.5% BYNSC + 4.5% groundnut cake meal) and T5 (18% BYNSC + 0% groundnut cake meal)). Daily dry matter intake was determined by subtracting ort collected from feed offered. Egg production was determined as hen-day (HDEP) and hen-housed egg production (HHEP). Crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy of BYNSC were 38.74% and 3153.07 kcal ME/kg/DM, respectively. Hens fed T3 had significantly (P < 0.001) greater daily dry matter (DM) intake (95.4 ± 0.5 g) than T1 (91.3 ± 0.3 g), T2 (92.4 ± 0.8 g), T4 (89.2 ± 0.9 g) and T5 (88.6 ± 0.6 g). HDEP was significantly (P < 0.001) higher for layers fed T3 (65.5%) than T1 (58.2%), T4 (54.8%) and T5 (51.6%), while the value for T2 and T3 did not differ. Egg weight was statistically similar (P > 0.05) among the treatments. Hens fed T3 (2.3 ± 0.05) diet attained lowest (P < 0.05) feed conversion rate than T4 (2.7 ± 0.13) and T5 (2.8 ± 0.11) but similar with T1 (2.6 ± 0.03) and T2 (2.5 ± 0.04). Generally, replacing groundnut by BYNSC mixture up to 50% could increase egg productivity without any adverse effect.

Keywords:

• Groundnut
• brewers’ yeast
• poultry
• egg production
• layer

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Pedro González-Redondo, University of Seville, Spain

SUBJECTS:

• Agriculture & Environmental Sciences; Zoology; Nutrition

Acknowledgement

We are greatly gratified to thank Haramaya University and Ministry of Science and Higher Education in granting the research budget cost. In addition, we would like to thank Haramaya University poultry farm and its workers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical consideration

This research fulfilled Farm Animal Welfare Council (2009) set principles to lessen suffering in terms of the five freedoms: 1) Freedom from hunger and thirst: access to fresh water and good nutrition. 2) Freedom from discomfort: suitable housing with protected areas to rest. 3) Freedom from pain, injuries, and diseases: prevention, diagnostics, and treatment. 4) Freedom to express normal behavior: sufficient space, adequate equipment, and contact with pen mates. 5) Freedom from fear and suffering: husbandry conditions and treatment that does not cause psychic suffering.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Endalamaw Yalew

Endalamaw Yalew is working as lecturer and researcher at Woldia University, Ethiopia.