Using date seed meal in dandarwilaying hens and growing cockerels dits

Abstract EN

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of different dietary levels of date seeds meal (DSM) on the performance of local Dandarawi laying hens and growing cockerels.

One hundred twenty, 26 week old hens were distributed into four groups in the first experiment (30 birds for each treatment, 3 replicates each) and 240, eight weeks old growing cockerels were also distributed into four equal groups in the second experiment (60 birds for each treatment, 3 replicates each).

Four levels of DSM (0, 10, 20, and 30 %) were used.

Results from the first experiment indicated that replacing 20 % of diet with DSM had no significant (PO.05) effect on egg mass, egg production, feed efficiency and survivability.

Using DSM at levels of 20 and 30 % led to a significant increase in albumen weight and to a significant reduction in yolk, shell percentage, yolk index and shell thickness.

Results from the second experiment revealed that there was a significant (PO.05) reduction in weight gain and feed intake and a significant improvement in feed efficiency when DSM was included at levels of 20 and 30 % of the growing cockerels diet.

Replacing 30 % of corn with DSM significantly increased in breast percentage and gizzard weight.

However, dressing and fat pad percentages were significantly decreased as DSM increased in the diet.