Impact of Dietary Sodium Bentonite and Direct Application of Aluminum Sulfate to the Litter on Egg Quality Traits and Laying Performance of Nigerian Noiler Hens

Subject Areas :

C. Ezenwosu ¹ , A.E. Onyimonyi ² , N.W. Anizoba ³ , C.O. Osita ⁴ , H.O. Edeh ⁵ , M.C. Ugwu ⁶ , V.C. Udeh ⁷ , M.O. Onodugo ⁸ , N.S. Machebe ⁹ , N.E. Ikeh ¹⁰ , R.C. Ezeokonkwo ¹¹

1 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
2 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
3 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
4 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
5 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
6 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
7 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
8 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
9 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
10 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
11 - Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Received: 2023-12-01 Accepted : 2024-07-08 Published : 2024-09-01

Keywords: aluminum sulfate, egg quality, laying performance, noiler hens, sodium bentonite,

Abstract :

Impact of dietary sodium bentonite (NaB) and direct application of aluminum sulfate (alum) to the litter on egg quality traits and laying performance of Nigerian noiler hens was investigated. A total of 180 (16 weeks old) Nigerian Noiler hens were allotted to 6 treatments groups in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement in com-pletely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 5 replicates of 6 hens each. Treatments included: T1= 0 g NaB/kg + 0 g alum/3 kg litter, T2= 15 g NaB/kg + 0 g alum/3 kg litter, T3= 30 g NaB/kg + 0 g alum/3 kg litter, T4= 0 g NaB/kg + 400 g alum/3 kg litter, T5= 15 g NaB/kg + 400 g alum/3 kg litter and T6= 30 g NaB/kg diet + 400 g alum/3 kg litter. Sodium bentonite was included in the diet at 3 levels (0, 15 and 30 g/kg diet), while aluminum sulfate was applied to the litter at two levels (0 and 400 g/3 kg litter). Results showed that values of egg quality traits (yolk weight, yolk height, yolk diameter, albumen weight, albumen diameter, yolk index, yolk ratio, yolk/albumen ratio, egg length, egg width, shell weight, shell thickness and egg shape index, haugh units) were higher (P<0.05) in treatment groups compared to control group. Fur-thermore, laying performance indices (hen day egg production, egg weight, egg mass, number of eggs pro-duced per hen and crates of egg produced per hen) improved higher (P<0.05) in treatment groups compared to control group. In summary, the study observed that dietary sodium bentonite and direct application of aluminum sulfate to the litter improved laying performance and egg quality traits of Nigerian Noiler hens. It was therefore, concluded that 15 g NaB/kg diet + 400 g alum/3 kg litter can be applied by egg producing farmers for the improvement of laying performance and egg quality traits.

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