Evaluation of CommercialLayerFeeds and their Impact on Performance and Egg Quality

Abstract

One hundred and eight (108) ISA brown hens at 34 weeks of age were used for this study which lasted
for 12 weeks. The hens were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (FT1, FT2 and FT3) consisting
of four replicates each with nine (9) hens per replicate in a completely randomized design. Three
commonly available commercial layers feed were purchased from a sales outfit and were designated as
FT1, FT2 and FT3. Each of the three feeds were analysed for calcium, phosphorus and proximate
composition. The hen day production (HDP), feed intake, number of eggs produced, feed conversion
ratio, feed cost and mortality were recorded/calculated. The egg quality was obtained from samples of
three eggs collected from each of the replicate at the end of the study. The results showed that there
were significant (P < 0.05) differences in the analyzed moisture and ash content of the feed, and in the
declared and analyzed values of the crude fibre, metabolizable energy, ME, calcium (Ca) and
phosphorus (P) while the crude protein and fat did not differ. The crude fibre content indicated for all
the feeds were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the analyzed content while the declared ME, Ca and P
were significantly higher than the analyzed values except for the ME in FT3
. The feeds (FT1 and FT2)
with the determined high crude fibre content had significantly (P<0.05) better HDP, number of eggs laid
per hen, feed conversion ratio and cost of feed per dozen egg. The feed intake of the hens fed the FT 1 and
FT2 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the FT3 but did not have any negative effect on the cost of
feed per dozen eggs. The egg quality parameters examined showed that the FT3
feed produced
significantly (P<0.05) higher weight of eggs, yolk and weight of the albumen while the other quality
indices showed no differences. The study clearly showed the feed manufacturer’s strategy of sustaining
their businesses with high fibre content, which still ensures that feed users produce reasonable quantity
of eggs. It was concluded that while all the three commercial feeds were useful in the absence of other
quality layers’ diets, the agencies concerned with feed regulation in Nigeria must ensure strict
compliance with quality standards to enhance the farmers’ confidence in commercial layer’s feed and
also boost egg production.