Productive Performance of Layer Chickens Fed Diets Containing Enzyme Fortified Feather Meal

Abstract

The research was conducted to investigate the replacement value of enzyme fortified feather meal (EFFM) for fish meal in the layer chicken diets. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) ISA Brown birds of thirty-five (35) weeks old were used for this study. The birds were randomly assigned to five treatment groups in a completely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated three times. In each experiment, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 layer diets were formulated such that diet one (1) contained 0% of enzyme fortified feather meal, while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contain 1, 2, 3 and 4% levels of EFFM respectively. Each level of EFFM was used to partially replace fish meal in the experimental diet, while treatment effects were assessed over the experimental period. Results obtained showed that the initial weights were similar (P>0.05) between the treatment groups. However, final weight, weight gain and average daily feed intake differed significantly (P<0.05) between treatment groups. Birds on diet T5 had significantly lower egg number than the control, while maintaining similar egg length and shell weight with the control. The egg internal quality characteristics showed that the treatment effects for the yolk height and albumen weight were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in T5 and T4 birds compared to the other groups, while the rest were similar (P>0.05) with each other. Feeding of EFFM forced down (P<0.05) the cost of producing the layer diet per kg of feed with the lowest cost being recorded for T5 (4.00% EFFM). Similar trend was also observed for feed cost/kg of egg produced which was also reduced with increasing inclusion of EFFM in the diets. Thus, the returns from sales were increased as EFFM increased in the poultry diet.