Sun dried cage layer manure in diet of white leghorn layers

An experiment was conducted to study the performance of White Leghorn (WLH) layers fed diet containing sun dried cage layer manure (SDCLM). Commercial WLH layers (120; 24 wks old) divided into 4 equal groups (5 repicates containing 6 birds each) were offered isonitrogenous and isocalorie diets i.e. conventional maize soya diet and 3 test diets containing SDCLM at 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0% level up to 40 wk of age. Dietary incorporation of SDCLM upto 10% did not affect egg production, egg weight, feed conversion and egg quality except eggshell thickness which decreased significantly (P<0.05). SDCLM up to 10% in the diet did not influence the serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase. However, serum protein concentration was higher (P<0.05) in the 2.5%SDCLM dietary group as compared to others. The serum uric acid concentration was highest in 10% SDCLM group. The humoral immune response did not differ significantly due to dietary incorporation of SDCLM upto 10%. It was concluded that SDCLM can be incorporated at 10% level in the diet of WL layers without affecting the performance.