Nutritional Evaluation of Sugarcane Press Residue in Layers

Sugarcane press residue (SPR), a byproduct from sugar industry was evaluated for its nutritional worth as the non-conventional source of minerals as well as organic nutrients in 32-week-old white leghorn laying hens. Eight practical types of isonitrogenous rations were prepared by incorporating SPR at 0, 5, 10 and 15 per cent either in the soya based or fish based diets to form T₁ to T₈ diets in that order. Each diet was assigned to five replicates of 4 laying hens each. The trial lasted for 84 days. Results revealed that the cumulative average feed consumption varied non-significantly (P>0.05) among different treatments ranging from 117.4 (T₃) to 121.7 g/d/bird (T₆ and T₇). The cumulative egg production ranged from 83.93 (T₈) to 93.3 (T₁) per cent. Cumulative feed conversion ratio (kg feed/dozen eggs) in soya based diets was significantly (P<0.05) poorer (1.65) in 10 per cent SPR diets as against best in control (1.53) and the corresponding values in fish based diets were 1.74 (15% SPR) and 1.58 (10% SPR). Hence, it can be concluded that SPR appears to be a valuable source of organic as well as inorganic nutrients and can be included in layer rations up to 10 per cent level.