dc.contributor.author | Tendwa, J. | |
dc.contributor.author | Kyuma, R. | |
dc.contributor.author | Choge, S. | |
dc.contributor.author | Murage, L. | |
dc.contributor.author | Onyore, E. | |
dc.contributor.author | 'Wahome, R.G. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2014-07-22T07:44:29Z | |
dc.date.available | 2014-07-22T07:44:29Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2011-09 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Optimimization of Agricultural Value Chains for sustainable Development | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11295/73232 | |
dc.description | aGRO 2011 biennial conference presentation | en_US |
dc.description.abstract | To assess utilization of prosopis based diets in layer chickens, four iso-caloric
iso-nitrogenous layer rations were formulated in accordance with KEBS
standards, and fed to groups of six layers replicated three times. The treatment
diets contained 0% prosopis, 10% prosopis, 20% prosopis and 30% prosopis.
The layer chickens were fed over a period of 5weeks. During this time, egg
production, external and internal egg quality was monitored. By the end ofthe
experiment the birds fed on 0%, 10% and 20% Prosopis diet had similar egg
productivity and egg quality. The birds on the 30% Prosopis diet, had a
significantly lower (P<0.05) egg production. An important observation is that
the birds' egg production improved greatly in the subsequent week for all the
diets except 30% Prosopis diet. Yolk weight was almost constant across diets
and there was no correlation between egg weight and the type of diet. There was
no significant diet effect on both the shell weight and albumen height.
However, it was observed that shell quality improved with higher levels of
prosopis. Eggs produced from birds fed on 0%, 10%, 20% and the 30%
Prosopis diets scored low on the colour chart. Addition of 10%,20% and 30%
Prosopis to the diets diet added colour to the yolk showing that Prosopis has
properties that can be exploited to reduce the use of xanthophylls. It was
concluded that inclusion of up to 20% prosopis pod flour in layer chickens
rations did not only not affect appetite, egg production, egg quality and feed
efficiency but also had the potential to reduce xanthophylls use in achieving the
deep yolk color usually desired by many consumers of eggs. | en_US |
dc.description.sponsorship | National Council of Science and Technology, The Kenya Seed Company | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi | en_US |
dc.subject | laying rations, | en_US |
dc.subject | egg quality, | en_US |
dc.subject | Prosopis juliflora pods, | en_US |
dc.title | Assessment of the effect of feeding prosopis pod flour based rations to layer chickens on laying and egg quality | en_US |
dc.type | Presentation | en_US |
dc.type.material | en | en_US |