Effect of dietary replacement of cereal maize with rice Polish on nutrient utilization and laying performance of white leg horn layers.

To evaluate non-cereal ration for layer birds an experiment was conducted on 72 WLH pullets which were raised on three different dietary treatments i.e. cereal based control (C), non-cereal low energy (NCLE) and non-cereal iso-caloric to control (NCIC) diet from 9 to 20 weeks of age. For present investigation at 20 weeks of age pullets each of the three groups were divided into two equal subgroup and were fed either the C diet or NCLE diet (for C and NCLE group) or C and NCIC diet (for NCIC group). The study was continued up to 40 weeks to see the dietary effect on nutrient utilization and laying performance of the birds. The ME intake of the birds fed on control diet was significantly (P<0.05) high than the birds fed NCLE diet. The birds on NCLE diet though tried to compensate energy deficit best to their capacity but failed to come to the level of the layers fed on C and NCIC diet. Egg production was significantly (P<0.05) low in layers fed on NCLE diet. Feed intake and egg weight did not show any significant (P<0.05) variation. The feed efficiency (kg feed/12 eggs) was significantly (P<0.05) better in pullets fed on C and NCIC diet. Feed consumption in kg/kg egg was significantly (P<0.05) better in pullets fed on C and NCIC diet. No significant effects of dietary treatments were observed on egg quality traits like shape index, yolk index and shell thickness, however, the albumen index of eggs under control group was significantly (P<0.05) higher than other groups. Cost of feed per 12 eggs was significantly (P<0.05) low in control group. It may be concluded that after 20 weeks layers should not be raised on low energy diet, since egg production goes down by over 20%.