Effect of replacing soybean meal with brewery dried grain on feed intake, egg production and egg quality parameters of Bovans brown chickens

Abstract

One hundred and fifty 18-weeks old Bovans brown layers were used to evaluate the effect of replacement of soybean meal with brewery dried grain on feed intake, egg production performance and egg quality parameters. Layers were fed a ration containing brewery dried grain at a level of 0% (T1), 6.5% (T2), 13% (T3), 19.5% (T4) and 26% (T5) by replacing the soybean meal. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design containing five treatments replicated thrice each of which lasted for 12 weeks. Data on feed intake, egg weight, and egg number were recorded on daily basis. Internal and external egg qualities were determined at weekly intervals using three eggs per replication. The egg weight was similar (p>0.05) among treatments. The total egg number per hen decreased with increasing levels of brewery dried grain. The total egg mass was greater (p<0.05) for T1 but lower (p<0.05) for T3, T4 and T5 which had similar (p>0.05) values with each other. The highest (p<0.05) hen-housed egg production was for T1. The total feed intake decreased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of brewery dried grain. However, feed conversion ratio for T3, T4 and T5 was greater (p<0.05) than T1 and T2. No consistent trend was observed in egg quality traits. Shell thickness for T1 was lower (p<0.5) than T3, T4 and T5. The internal egg quality parameters were similar (p>0.05) among treatments except yolk height and yolk color score. The yolk color score decreased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of brewery dried grain. The highest marginal rate of return was obtained by including higher level of BDG (26%) and decreased with decreasing level of BDG. In conclusion, inclusion of up to 26% brewery dried grain in the diet of Bovans brown layers reduced egg production, although economically profitable with similar effect on internal egg qualities.