Effect of dietary replacement of maize with cassava root meal on production performance, egg quality and serum biochemical parameters of Vanaraja laying hens

Abstract

The effect of dietary replacement of maize with cassava root meal (CRM) on production performance, egg quality and serum biochemical parameters were studied in Vanaraja laying hens. Eighty four, 38-weeks old Vanaraja laying hens were randomly distributed into 3 dietary treatment groups of 24 hens each and were reared in deep litter system. Each treatment contained 4 replicates of 7 hens each. Three experimental diets were formulated by using CRM to replace maize at 0 (T1), 50 (T2) and 100% (T3) levels. A measured quantity of each diet was offered to one of the treatment group during the experimental period of 38 to 46 weeks of age. Dietary incorporation of CRM substituting maize upto 100% in the diet of Vanaraja laying hens had no adverse affect on body weight gain, egg production, egg weight, egg mass and feed efficiency. Similarly, none of the egg quality parameters such as albumen %, Yolk %, eggshell weight, Haugh unit, eggshell thickness were influenced due to 100% dietary replacement of maize with CRM. The serum biochemical parameters like total protein, albumin, globulin, uric acid, phosphorus and total cholesterol were not influenced due to complete replacement of dietary maize with CRM in Vanaraja laying hens. However, serum triglycerides concentration decreased significantly due to 100% replacement of dietary maize with CRM. The serum calcium concentration also increased significantly due to dietary incorporation of CRM in the laying hens. It is concluded that maize can be completely replaced with cassava root meal without adversely affecting production performance in Vanaraja laying hens.