Journal of Applied Animal Research
  • Year: 2008
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: 1

Assessment of egg production indices of layers following dietary inclusion of composite cassava (Manihot esculanta) meal

  • Author:
  • C.O. Okereke1, S.N. Ukachukwu2, D.O. Umesiobi3,
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • Page Number: 69 to 72

1National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, PMB, 7006, Umuahia, Nigeria

2Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, PMB, 7267, Umuahia, Nigeria

3School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

*Corresponding author: Tel.: +27-51-5073272, Cell: +27-823903717; Fax: +27-51-5073435; E-mail: umesiobi@cut.ac.za

Abstract

Ninety (90) 40-week-old laying hens of the Lowman Brown strain were used in a 10 weeks experiment to determine the effect of replacing dietary maize meal at 0%,10%, 20%, 30% and 40% levels with composite cassava meal (CCM) on the performance of laying birds. Feed intake and feed per dozen eggs increased with increasing level of CCM in diet. Other parameters were generally similar among all groups. Results suggest that the diets containing various inclusion levels of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% CCM were equally utilised by the laying hens.

Keywords

Manihot esculanta meal, egg production, egg quality, Lowman Brown layer breed