Feeding Value of Palm Kernel Meal in Layer Diet

Abstract

A total of forty eight 22-week old Single Comb White Lcghoni (SCWL) were used to
evaluate the feeding value of palm kernel meal (PKM) in layer diet. The pullcts were randomly assigned to four groups of treatment in Completely Randomized Designed (CRD) and fed their respective diets containing 0%, 5%, l()% and l5% PKM. Weekly feed consumption, feed efficicncy, egg production and egg weight were monitored for l2 weeks. During the period yolk color and shell thickness were also measured biweekly. Nutrient digestibility of four treatments ration were examined as a supoiting data. All data were analyzed using split plot in time in CRD. Trend comparison was used to determine the linear, quadratic and cubic effect of the inclusion levels of PKM (Gomez and Gomez, 1984). A significant interaction between levels of PKM in the diet and weeks of feeding was  observed on all parameters measured (P<0.01) except on feed efficicncy. After four weeks applying the treatment, the chicken fed diets with 15% PKM can adjust its condition to produce nonnal weight of eggs with more intense yellow color of the yolk. However on the sixth week of feeding the egg production decreased while the egg shell thickness becaluc thiner. This result was also suported by the nutrient digestibility. Although differences were not statistically significant as far as the nutrient digestibility study of the ration with increasing level of PKM were coneemcd, the digestibility of the nutrients tended to decrease with l5% PKM. Within the limits under which this study was conducted it could be concluded that PKM could only be used in layer dict up to l(J% without adverserly affecting the layer production.