The feeding value of quality protein maize is similar to commercial maize for egg production and quality traits in laying hens

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether feed comprised of quality protein maize (QPM; Shaktiman-1, white coloured variety; developed in India by Directorate of Maize Research, Pusa, New Delhi by incorporating opaque-2 gene into the normal maize by conventional breeding methods which improves the nutritional quality of the maize by increasing the contents of two essential amino acids–lysine and tryptophan) has any adverse effect on egg production and quality traits of laying hens when compared with feed comprised of commercial maize. The feeding value of QPM (Shaktiman-1, white coloured variety) vis-à-vis commercial maize was tested on laying hens by substituting commercial maize from the standard corn soybean based control ration at 100% levels (w/w). Marigold petals @ 500g/qtl were added in the test diet in which comm. yellow maize was substituted with white QPM. All the diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and had same levels of lysine by adjusting the level of soybean meal in control diet. Each diet was replicated 18 times. The feeding trial was conducted for 9 weeks starting from 48 weeks of age. The performance of layers with respected to egg production performance and egg quality traits were evaluated. The results of the study indicated that although the feeds intake and egg production of the laying hens fed QPM diet increased numerically, it did not differ significantly from the commercial maize based diet. The dietary treatment has no significant (P>0.05) effects on egg weight, FCR, soft and broken egg percentage, yolk colour and Haugh unit. However, QPM had no effects on egg weight, FCR, soft and broken egg percentage and Haugh unit. It is concluded that the feeding value of Quality Protein Maize (Shaktiman-1, white coloured variety) was similar to commercial maize for laying hens.