Abstract :
A seventy-day feeding trial was conducted to
evaluate the performance and egg quality of laying hen fed
heat treated sheep manure (HSM) based diets supplemented
with Roxazyme G enzyme. Seven experimental layer diets
were formulated with oven-dried HSM such that diets 2, 4
and 6 contained 5%, 10% and 15% HSM without enzyme
supplementation respectively. Diets 3, 5 and 7 contained 5%,
10% and 15% HSM supplemented with 100mg Roxazyme
enzyme per kilogram weight of feed respectively. Diet 1
(control) contained 0% sheep manure. Two hundred and
fifty-two (252) 35 weeks old (Black Nera Strain) birds were
divided into seven groups of thirty-six birds each and
randomly assigned to the seven dietary treatments in a
completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment was
replicated three times with twelve birds/replicate. Results
showed that there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in
weight gain, feed conversion ratio and egg quality
characteristics of laying hens fed HSM diets (with or without
enzyme) but for percentage yolk and egg yolk colour where
significant (P < 0.05) differences existed. Hen day egg and total
egg production significantly decreased with increase in HSM
inclusion. However, enzyme supplementation significantly
(P < 0.05) enhanced hen-day and total egg production.
Supplementation of HSM diets with exogenous enzyme
significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the feed intake of the birds at
all levels of HSM inclusion. The results also indicated that
laying hens could tolerate up to 10% unsupplemented HSM
diets without any deleterious effects on weight gain, hen day,
and total egg production, thus making HSM a potential feed
stuff for laying hens. It’s utilization at up to 15% dietary
level in laying hens diets is achievable with enzyme
supplementation
