RESPONSE OF LAYING HENS TO DIFFERENT INCLUSION LEVELS OF PALM KERNEL MEAL AND VEGETABLE OIL

Abstract

Palm kernel meal (PMK) was isonitrogenously substituted at 15.9 and 31.8% into a maize-groundnut meal-based diet and balanced for dietary energy by adding 2.5 or 5.0% vegetable oil as palm oil (PO) or palm kernel oil (PKO). The five diets including the basal diet were fed to 26-week-old Ross brown pullets for 12 weeks. The utilization of major nutrients and production performance were unaffected by the inclusion of 15.9% P MK with either of the two oils. Increased egg output for birds fed this level offset the noted increase in feed intake. Depressed dry matter, energy and crude fibre retention, were associated with 31.8% PKM in the diet but hen day egg production, egg weight and efficiency of feed conversion were not adversely affected. The contribution of oils to efficient utilization of a diet containing a fibre source as palm kernel meal, apart from boosting up dietary energy, is discussed along with the advantage that may accrue with the feeding of either palm oil or palm kernel oil.