Economic Analysis, Egg Quality Characteristics and Growth Parameters of Pullets Fed Graded Levels of Recycled Vegetable Wastes

Vitus Izuazu; Uche D.E. Ogbuokiri; Chijioke C. Olueze; Chinwe M. Nwogu; Callistus C. Eke and Colman Ibe

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the economic analysis, egg quality characteristics and growth parameters of pullets fed graded levels of recycled vegetable wastes. Sixty (60) Shika Brown pullets of 22 week - old were used for the experiment. The sixty pullets were selected from a pool of eighty (80) pullets and were randomly assigned to five (5) treatments with twelve (12) birds per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) on the basis of vigor. Each treatment group was further replicated 4 times with three (3) birds per replicate and housed in 2m x 3m pen on a deep litter and fed water and feed ad libitum starting from 7.00 am daily for the twenty- one (21) days of the feeding trial. Five experimental diets were prepared to contain 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% of the homogenized vegetable meal (HVM), for treatment 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Treatment 1 served as control. The percentage hen-day egg production, albumen index, average feed intake, shell thickness, and yolk color index for all treatments were not significant (p>0.05). Average weight (g), Haugh unit, Yolk index and Feed conversion ratio (FCR) shows that treatments 4 and 5 were significantly better (p<0.05) than in treatments 1 to 3. Birds on treatments 4 and 5 converted feed most effectively into an egg (p<0.05). Feed cost/kg bag for treatments 3, 4 and 5 were significant (p<0.05) and more economical than treatments 1 and 2. Feed used (kg) to produce the kg of egg were significantly better (p<0.05) in treatments 4 and 5 than the rest of the treatments, with the control diet numerically poorer (2.00kg fee/kg egg produced). The cost of feed/kg egg decreased with an increase in the inclusion rate. Treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5 were significantly less expensive (p<0.05) than treatment 1.

Key words

economic analysis, egg quality, recycled vegetables, pullets, performance