Effect of dietary replacement of maize with rice polish on the performance of layers

To evaluate non-cereal ration for layer birds an experiment was conducted on 72 WLH layers from 20- 40 weeks of age. The birds were fed on cereal based control diet, non cereal low energy diet (NCLE) or non cereal iso caloric to control (NCIC) diet. Egg production was significantly (P<0.05) low in layers fed on NCLE diet. Feed intake and egg weight did not show any significant (P<0.05) variation. Feed consumption in kg/kg egg mass was significantly (P<0.05) better in layers fed on C and NCIC diet. Non significant effects of dietary treatments were observed on egg quality traits like shape index, yolk index and shell thickness however the albumen index of eggs under group D, was. significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of groups D₃ to D₆. Cost of feed per kg egg mass was significantly (P<0.05) low in control group. It was concluded that after 20 weeks layers should not be raised on low energy diet, since egg production goes down by over 20 per cent.