Performance and Economics of Production of Laying Hens Fed Dried Bakery Waste

The response of laying hens fed graded levels of dried bakery waste (DBW) as partial replacement of maize was investigated in an 8-week experiment using completely randomized design. Sixty four, 35 weeks old Isa brown layers were divided into four treatment groups of two replicates each consisting of 8 birds per replicate and assigned to four diets were formulated to containing 0% (control), 10, 20 and 30% levels of DBW. Feed intake, body weight gain, protein intake and egg weight did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the dietary treatments. Hen day production was higher (P<0.05) in 20 and 30% DBW diets than in 10% DBW and control. Efficiency of conversion feed to eggs was superior (P<0.05) in DBW diets as compared with control; even among the DBW diets, it was better in 20 and 30% DBW than 10% DBW. Cost of feed consumed/day and feed cost/dozen egg were lower (P<0.05) in DBW diets than the control and least in 30% DBW diet, though 20% DBW diet has an intermediate position between 10 and 30% DBW diets. Savings on feed cost and feed cost/dozen egg were significantly higher with 30% DBW followed by 20 and 10% DBW diets, respectively. Birds fed 30% DBW diets exhibited best performance and the diet was most cost effective.