AMINO ACID PROFILE, ENERGY METABOLIZABILITY AND FEEDING VALUE OF QUALITY PROTEIN MAIZE IN LAYING HENS

Abstract

Philipp J Vet Anim Sci 2012, 38 (2): 117-126

The amino acid profile and apparent metabolizable energy (AME) contents of a new quality protein maize (QPM) cultivar were analyzed. A normal maize (NM), which served as a reference, was also subjected to the same determinations. The analyzed values were used in formulating leastcost QPM and NM-based isonutrient diets. A feeding trial using 144 layers (Dekalb, 24 weeks old) were used to assess the effects of the diets on production performance and egg quality for 16 weeks. The birds were assigned to the diets, each with six replications of 12 birds per replication, in a completely randomized design. The concentration of total amino acids was 23% greater in QPM than NM. The AME (as fed basis) of QPM was comparable with that of NM. There was no significant difference on egg production performance of layers fed QPM and NM-based diets. However, subjective yolk color score was lower (P<0.001) in eggs of layers fed the QPM-based diet than
those fed the NM-based diet. The findings show that QPM is a promising grain for poultry feeding and can be used to replace NM in layers’ diet.