The Effect of Golden Jubilee Maize (GJM) on egg production and egg quality of layer chickens

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Date
2011
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Abstract
A total of 192 Lohmann brown pullets of twenty- three weeks of age at a production level of 50 % and with a mean initial weight of 1.48 kg were randomly allotted to three isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets ie. Normal maize (NM), Obatanpa (OBAT), and Golden Jubilee maize (GJM) over a 33 week period to assess their relative nutritive values . Feed and water were given ad libitum. The proximate analysis of the maize samples showed that NM, GJM and OBAT had crude protein values of 10.0, 8.6 and 9.1 % respectively and dry matter content of 89 %, 90 % and 89.50 % for NM, GJM, and OBAT respectively. The results did not show any significant difference (p>0.05) in feed consumption among the dietary treatments though numerical differences were observed. Hens fed GJM laid 898 and 1,056 more eggs than those fed NM and Obatanpa respectively showing a significant difference (p<0.05) between OBAT and GJM but not significant (p>0.05) between NM and GJM. Though cost of feed consumed did not differ among the three dietary treatments, GJM recorded higher values for feed per kilogram egg, feed per dozen eggs, feed cost per kilogram egg and feed cost per dozen eggs produced, an indication of higher income when GJM is used in layer diet. The internal qualities measured such as Haugh Unit (HU) and pH were within the acceptable range indicating a good quality. The mean (HU) Scores were 85.57, 87.64 and 89.64 for NM, OBAT and GJM respectively. The keeping quality of the eggs did not show any significant difference (p>0.05) among the dietary treatments. However, there was a deterioration of HU, albumen height, egg weight, increment in pH value and yolk percentage with storage. The cholesterol level in the egg of hens fed GJM was lowest compared with that of NM and slightly higher than that of Obatanpa. The use of GJM in the diet of layer hens showed favourable results and will be useful to farmers for maximum egg production without compromising egg quality.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal Nutrition.
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