EFFECT OF THE REPLACEMENT OF MAIZE WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DUSA (LOCAL MAIZE OFFAL) IN THE DIETS OF LAYING CHICKENS

Abstract

The effect of the replacement of maize with dusa (local maize offal) in the diets of 378 laying hens of approximately equal weights was investigated. Proximate analysis and metabolizable energy of dusa were determined. The three hundred and seventy eight birds were randomly allocated to seven dietary treatments in which treatment one was the control and contained no dusa. Treatment two to seven were composed of rations in which graded levels of dusa replaced maize up to 100% in treatment seven. There were three replicates of 18 birds in each replicate. Dusa has 10.82% crude protein and a metabolized energy value of 2784kcal/kg. There was no significant difference (P> 0.05) observed in the average daily egg production between the treatments after 6 months of lay. Feed consumption however increased linearly as the dusa ration increased in the diets. The feed cost (N/dozen of eggs) decreased significantly (P<0.05) as the level of dusa increased. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the percentage mortality of birds, percent hen-day, percent hen-housed egg production and in the Haugh unit value.