ORIGINAL PAPER
A note on the effect of feeding local forages to
commercial layers on egg production and yolk
colour
1 |
Department of Animal Science, University of Dschang,
P.O. Box 70, Dschang, Cameroon |
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2000;9(2):391–396
Publication date: 2000-05-08
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The effect of feeding Arachis glabrata, Leucaena leucocephala, Calliandra calothyrsus or Desmodium spp. leaves to commercial layer on egg production and yolk colour was compared with the
effect of feeding an artificial yolk pigmentor (Carophyl®). Percent hen-day production averaging
77.4 and 74.7%, respectively for hens fed on Desmodium spp. and Leucaena leucocephala leaves,
were significantly (P<0.05) higher than egg production in the control group. No significant difference was recorded among treatment groups for shell thickness. Yolk colour in groups fed forage
leaves ranges between 6.76 and 9.83 and was significantly better than in control group (2.35). It was
concluded that any of the studied forage leaves could be used to supply xanthophyll to commercial
layers with no detrimental effect on egg production and quality.
CITATIONS (1):
1. |
Genetic diversity analysis in the section Caulorrhizae (genus Arachis) using microsatellite markers Darío A. Palmieri, Marcelo D. Bechara, Rogério A. Curi, Jomar P. Monteiro, Sérgio E.S. Valente, Marcos A. Gimenes, Catalina R. Lopes Genetics and Molecular Biology
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