Wisitiporn, Suksombat

Suranaree University of Technology Intellectual Repository

UTILIZATION OF HEDGE LUCERNE MEAL (DESMATHUSVIRGATUS) AS PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT IN LAYER DIETSWisitiporn Suksombat1* and Kruan Buakeeree2Received: Aug 30, 2005; Revised: Dec 19, 2005; Accepted: Dec 27, 2005Abstract:The present experiment was conducted to determine the effect of hedge lucerne meal on the layingperformance and egg quality of laying hens. Three hundred 22 week-old Hisex brown pullets wererandomly divided into 5 groups of 60 hens each. Each group was fed a ration containing 0, 2, 4, 6 and8% hedge lucerne meal. All diets were isonitrogenous and were fed to the layers continuously for five28-day periods. The results demonstrated that feeding 8% hedge lucerne meal decreased egg production.No significant differences among the dietary treatments were found in feed intake, body weight gain,egg weight, egg mass, egg composition and general health of the laying hens. In terms of egg quality, itwas found that there were no significant differences in specific gravity, shell thickness, albumin heightand Haugh units between dietary treatments. However, egg yolk color was significantly affected, withthe control group having a yolk color much paler than the other groups, while hens fed 8% hedgelucerne meal in the diet had the highest egg yolk color score (p<0.01). The results of this experimentclearly indicate that 6% hedge lucerne meal can be added in the diet of laying hens without any adverseeffects on the laying performances and egg quality.Keywords: Hedge lucerne meal, Desmanthus virgatus, layer, feed intake, egg production, eggyolk color1 School of Animal Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University ofTechnology, 111 University Avenue, Amphur Muang, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. 30000.Tel: 0066-44-224372; Fax: 0066-44-224150; E-mail: wisitpor@sut.ac.th2 Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Songkhla Rajabhat University, Songkhla, Thailand. 90000.* Corresponding authorSuranaree J. Sci. Technol. 13(2):181-187IntroductionIn the poultry industry of Thailand tree legumemeals such as leucaena are generally added topoultry rations either as a source of proteinsupplement or as a source of carotenoid pigmentsto improve yolk color. They may also be sourcesof other nutrients. However, there have beenlimited publications on the effects of addinghedge lucerne meals (HLM) to the diet oflaying hens on egg production and quality. Muchof the research has centered on the effects ofHLM on growing chicks.The main species of tree legumes used inthese nutritional studies have been leucaena(Leucaena leucocephala), gliricidia (Gliricidia

Utilization of hedge lucerne meal (desmathus virgatus) as protein supplement in layer diets

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Utilization of hedge lucerne meal (desmathus virgatus) as protein supplement in layer diets

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