EGG QUALITY AND HATCHABILITY OF In situ - REARED KEDU AND CEMANI HENS FED DIET OF FARMER FORMULATION SUPPLEMENTED WITH VITAMIN E

The aim of study was to evaluate the effect of dietary vitamin E supplementation in Kedu and Cemani hens reraed in situ and given farmer-formulated diet on egg performances. A total of 120 female and 24 male birds were equally divided into two groups of Kedu and Cemani, with average body weight of 1890+216.79 and 1830+396.23 g, respectively. Basal ration was based on the diet formulated by the farmer (R1) consisting of corn (30%), rice bran (50%), protein concentrate (15%), and premix (5%). Dietary treatments evaluated were R1 (without additional vitamin E), and the other three were the inclusion of DL α-tocopheryl acetate into the R1 diet up to 2 (R2), 4 (R3) and 6 IU (R4). The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Block Design with 4 treatments, and 2 different groups of hen (Kedu and Cemani) were assigned as block. Parameters observed were feed consumption, hen day production, feed conversion ratio, egg quality, fertility, and hatchability. The result showed that vitamin E supplementation did not affect whatever parameters, except egg fertility. Egg hatchability between Kedu and Cemani hens was significantly different (p<0.05). Trend comparison test indicated significantly linear (p<0.05) for fertility and hatchability. In conclusion, vitamin E supplementation up to 6 IU increased linearly egg fertility and hatchability of about 5-8%, and egg hatchability of Kedu hens was higher (11%) than that of Cemani.