Egg Laying Performance, Egg Quality and Hematological Implication of Ensiled Fibrous Feedstuff in Laying Pullets

The egg laying performance and egg quality indices of Bovan Nera pullets were investigated while using 10% inclusion levels of ensiled rice husk (ERH) fermented with molasses for varying durations of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Feed intake was constant and similar (P>0.05) for all experimental pullets with a range of 122.3±11.2g in the diet in which rice husk was ensiled for 14 days (14d ERH) to138.1±2.0g in the reference diet with un-ensiled rice husk (UERH). The feed conversion values obtained for all the experimental pullets were similar (P>0.05) with a range between 2119±42.6g in the reference diet and 2393.7±54.7g in the 28d ERH diet. The hen day production (%) values obtained for all experimental pullets placed on the experimental diets were similar (P>0.05) with values ranging between 66.3±0.2% and 66.3±0.6% for birds placed on 21d ERH and 28d ERH, respectively and 78.3±3.6% for birds placed on reference diet. The egg weight mean values were similar (P>0.05) for all pullets placed on all the experimental diets. The mean egg weight value had a range of 59.4±0.4g for eggs collected from pullets on 7d ERH diet to 65.6±0.6g for eggs collected from pullets on 28d ERH diet. All investigated internal and external egg indices of experimental pullets had similar (P>0.05) mean values. Apart from the mean corpuscular hemoglobin value, all other investigated heamatological parameters had similar mean values (P>0.05) for all the birds on all the six experimental diets. The inclusions of rice husk at tolerable levels of 10% in Bovan Nera pullets may have complementary dietary roles with other available dietary nutrients in the experimental diets enhancing egg laying performance and other egg quality indices.