INFLUENCE OF FEED TYPE ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL LAYING HENS IN BAUCHI METROPOLIS

Abstract

A 14 weeks trial was conducted to determine the influence of feed type on productive performance of commercial laying hens in Bauchi Metropolis. A total of 384 Agrited Lohmann Brown laying hens managed in a battery cage system and grouped into eight (8) feed types  coded as T1 (Maize, Wheat Offal), T2 (Maize, Sorghum, Wheat Offal), T3 (Sorghum, Rice Offal), T4 (Maize, Wheat Offal, Rice Offal), T5 (Maize, Rice Offal), T6 (Sorghum, Wheat Offal), T7 (Sorghum, Wheat Offal, Rice Offal), T8 (Maize, Sorghum, Wheat Offal) of 48 birds per treatment were used. In each treatment, the birds were distributed into three (3) tiers (16 birds per tier) of upper, middle and lower tiers of the battery cage that served as replication in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied ad-libitum. Data generated were analyzed using General Linear Model Analysis for hen day egg production and Univariate Analysis of Variance for feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Hen-day egg production was highest in T4 (65.48%) and T3 (65.43%) and the lowest in T1 (64.50) and T2 (64.41%); p<0.001. Feed intake (g/day) ranged from 108.77kg to 107.67kg with birds on T4 consuming more feed than the other.  Feed conversion ratio was highest (p<0.001) in T1 (2.64) and T7 (2.64) and lowest in T3 (2.59) and T8 (2.88). It was concluded that different feed type had influence on productive performance of commercial laying hens.