Early Laying Performance of Black Harco Pullets Fed Varying Dietary Energy Levels in Sokoto Nigeria.

Abstract

This trial was conducted using 156 Black Harco pullets to assess the influence of varying dietary energy levels on early laying performance, feed intake, water intake, egg production and egg weight were assessed. There were four treatments with 39 birds per treatment, each treatment have three replicates, with 13 birds in each replicate; treatment1;2400kcal/kg; treatment2; 2,500kcal/kg; treatment 3; 2,600kcal/kg; treatment 4 is a commercial layer diet with 2,550 kcal/kg . The experiment lasted for eight weeks (21 to 28 week of age). The data were analyzed with one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using General Linear Model (GLM) Procedure of Statistical Analysis System (SAS). Post-hoc Duncan's Multiple Range test was carried out with a P-value < 0.05 as significant.. Results of the study indicated that feed intake was higher for birds on 2,550kcal/kg compared to 2,500kcal/kg and 2,600kcal/kg. Similarly, water intake was significantly higher with birds fed 2,550kcal/kg compared to other treatments. Egg production was however significantly (P < 0.05) higher for birds fed 2,400kcal/kg compared to 2,500kcal/kg and 2,600kcal/kg. Egg weight did not differ between the 2,550 kcal/kg and those containing 2,400Kcal/kg and 2,500 Kcal/kg compared to the diet containing 2,600Kcal/kg. According to this result it could be concluded that the diet containing 2,400 Kcal/kg was the best in terms of egg production and could be adopted for the early laying pullets in the study area. Further studies are also recommended to re-evaluate the treatments as either self formulated or commercial diet.