EFFECT OF ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION OF LOW PROTEIN DIETS ON PERFORMANCE AND EGG QUALITY PARAMETERS OF LAYING HENS

Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of enzyme supplementation on performance and egg quality parameters of laying hens. Twenty (20) weeks old layer hens were randomly allotted to 13.5% protein diets whose methionine and lysine levels have been adjusted to meet the NRC (1994) requirements for laying hens with or without enzyme supplementation for 12 weeks. Enzyme A is a Non-Starch Polysaccharide (NSP) degrading enzyme with some protease activities while Enzyme B is an NSPdegrading enzyme. There were five (5) dietary treatment groups containing enzyme A (0.1g/kg), enzyme A (0.2g/kg), enzyme B (0.1g/kg), enzyme B (0.2g/kg), and the control diet was without enzyme. Growth performance and egg quality parameters data were collected weekly. Feed intake, weight gain, Hen Day Production (%), feed/dozen egg (kg) and feed cost/dozen egg (₦) were significantly (p<0.05) improved with enzymes supplementation than in layers fed the control diet. Egg weight (g) and egg quality parameters were not affected (P>0.05) by enzymes supplementation. The study concluded that while enzymes supplementation improved the performance parameters of layers fed low CP diets compared to the control, the reduced egg weight was not corrected. The study therefore suggested the need for other measures to improve the egg weight of layers in early laying stage to improve the egg weight.