Animal Production

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    EFFECT OF PARTIAL SUBSTITUTION OF NOUG SEED CAKE WITH STINGING NETTLE (Urtica simensis S.) LEAF MEAL ON EGG QUALITY PARAMETERS OF COMMERCIAL LAYER HENS
    (Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2017) GALAYE GANEBO
    The effect of various levels of Stinging nettle leaf meal (SNLM) on the egg production and egg quality of commercial birds was investigated using 150 Isa Brown layer hens. Five iso nitrogenous and iso-caloric layer diets were formulated to contain SNLM at 0% (treatment 1 = T1), 3% (treatment 2 = T2), 6% (treatment 3 = T3), 9% (treatment 4 = T4) and 12% (treatment5=T5) by partially substituting Nuge seed cake. The results indicated that the total and daily feed intake did not differ among hens reared in different treatment diets. The individual final body weight (g) of hens reared in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 was 1786,1804,1804, 1819, 1858, respectively, being significantly higher for T5 than those of other treatments. The average egg weight (g) of hens reared in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 was 45.0, 47.2, 48.9, 53.5 and 55.5, respectively, being significantly different for T4 and T5 as compared with other treatments. The average hen-housed egg production (%) for hens fed with T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 diets was 44.3, 49.5, 59.4, 70.9 and 80.5%, respectively, being significantly different from each other. Similarly, the respective individual daily egg mass output (g) in hens reared in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 diets was 20.0, 23.4, 29.1, 37.9, and 44.7, being (p<0.05) different from each other. The average feed conversation ratio (kg feed/kg egg mass) was 5.20, 4.18, 3.55, 2.83 and 2.40 for hens reared in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively and was lower (p<0.05) for those of T4 and T5. The results further indicated that the experimental diet did not affect most of the external egg qualities at 23 weeks of age. However, at the same age, there was a significant difference between treatments in yolk colour being significantly higher for hens reared in T5 than those of T1 and T2. On the contrary, the Haugh unit was significantly lower in hens raised in T5 diet than those fed on other treatment diets at 23 weeks of age. At the age of 28 weeks, significant differences were observed between treatments for all external egg qualities. Accordingly, hens reared in T3, T4 and T5 diets had significantly higher shell thickness values than those of T1 and T2. However, hens reared in T2 showed better egg shape index as compared to those of T5. Hens reared in T3, T4 and T5 had significantly higher shell thickness values than those of T1 and T2. The yolk index at the age of 28 weeks was significantly higher in hens reared in T5 than that of T1 and T3. At the same age, the HU was significantly higher for hens reared in T2 (79.5) than those of T3 (77.1) and T5 (76.0). In conclusion, the substitution of Noug seed cake with increasing levels of SNLM improved the egg production and egg quality parameters of hens. 9% and 12% substitution of Noug seed cake with SNLM has been thus recommended for better results by reducing the cost of the Noug seed cake for commercial layer hens. Keywords: Stinging nettle leaf; Noug seed cake; Isa Brown layer hens; Egg production; mass; Egg qualities