Influence of Feeding Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Leaves on the Performance of Vanaraja Laying Hen

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) is an important grain and fodder legume crop grown in many parts of the world. Cowpea is used at all stages of its growth including as vegetables (Ofori and Stern, 1986). Harvested tender green cowpea leaves constitute an important leafy vegetable often prepared as salad like spinach, lettuce, amaranthus and cabbage for direct consumption. Because of the high nutritional value of tender leaves, it can be exploited as a part of feed in poultry. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to study the effect of inclusion of cowpea leaves in the diet on the performance of Vanaraja laying hens for a period of 6 weeks. Vanaraja laying hens (N=36, 25 weeks old) were randomly distributed into 3 equal groups (duplicated into 3 groups of 3 laying hens each) and kept on wire mesh floored cages and offered standard layer ration (BIS, 1992) @ 125 g/hen/d in group T 1 , standard layer ration @ 75 g/hen/d and cowpea leaves as fresh basis @ 75 g/hen/d in group T 2 and standard layer ration @ 62.5 g/hen/d with cowpea leaves @ 125 ABSTRACT The study was undertaken to investigate the utilization of cowpea leaves in Vanaraja laying hens. Vanaraja laying hens (N=36, 25 weeks old) were randomly distributed into 3 equal groups (duplicated into 3 groups of 3 laying hens each) and kept in wire mesh floored cages and offered standard layer ration @ 125 g/ hen/ (T 1 , Control), standard layer ration @ 75 g/hen/d and cowpea leaves on fresh basis @ 75 g /hen/d (T 2 , 40% of basal diet replaced by fresh cowpea leaves) and standard layer ration @ 62.5 g/hen/d with cowpea leaves @ 125 g/hen/d (T 3 , 50% of basal diet replaced by fresh cowpea leaves) for a period of 8 weeks. There was reduction (P<0.05) in egg production (dozen or kg) in group fed 125 g cowpea leaves/hen/d. However, laying hens fed 75 g of fresh cowpea leaves/hen/d produced eggs (in dozen) similar to that of control group. Feed intake was reduced (P<0.05)due to feeding of cowpea leaves. Feed efficiency (feed intake in kg/dozen egg or feed intake in kg/kg egg mass) was improved (P<0.05) in group T 2 fed fresh cowpea leaves @ 75 g/hen/d. Feed cost to produce dozen egg was lower (P<0.05) for both the experimental groups fed cowpea leaves. Hence, cowpea leaves could be fed @ 75 g/hen/d on fresh basis to Vanaraja laying hens for more income generation due to significant reduction in feed cost without affecting their performance.