SUNFLOWER MEAL AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCE TO GROUNDNUT MEAL IN LAYING HENS' RATION

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the substitution of groundnut meal (GNM) by sunflower meal (SFM). GNM was substituted by SFM by inclusion of either 0% sunflower meal (SFM 0%), 50% (SFM 50%) or 100% (SFM 100%) of the total plant protein in the diet. Ninety hens of 24 weeks old white leghorn commercial layers (Lohman strain) were used. The hens were randomly assigned into three treatments with three replicates. Three approximately iso- nitrogenous and iso-caloric rations containing either 0%, 13% or 26% sunflower meal were formulated. Feed intake, body weight gain and total egg mass were weekly measured. Final egg weight, yolk weight, albumin and shell weight and shell thickness were done. Eggs number was recorded daily, feed conversion ratio and laying % and specific gravity were calculated. The substitution of GNM by 50% of SFM recorded significantly (P≤0.05) better feed intake, body weight gain, egg number, egg mass, feed conversion ratio and laying %. The egg weight and yolk weight were significantly (P≤0.05) better in 100% substitution of GNM by SFM. Albumin and shell weight, shell thickness and egg specific gravity were insignificantly (P>0.05) affected by inclusion of SFM in the diet. The feed costs per hen were generally lower for the SFM groups.