Nutritional Evaluation of Yam Peel Meal for Pullet Chickens: 2. Effect of Feeding Varying Levels on Sexual Maturity and Laying Performance

A study was conducted to determine the effect of replacing maize with yam peel meal (YPM) on sexual maturity and laying performance of pullet chickens reared on yam peel meal (YPM) based diets from day-old to point-of-lay. A total of 150 gold-coloured Anak pullet-type chicks were used for this study. The birds were reared on their various diets up till point-of-lay (20 weeks). Thereafter, they were fed a common layer diet over a 35-day trial period. The results indicated that for Diets, 1 (0%), 2(25%), 3 (50%), 4(75%) and 5 (100%), days to first egg were in the range of 161, 147, 155, 155 and 169 respectively. Weight of first egg (g) resulted in values of 50.30, 50.83, 45.83, 45.83, 45.53 and 41.63. The birds fed Diets 2, 3 and 4 in which YPM substituted 25, 50 and 75% of dietary maize attained 5, 15, 25 and 50% hen day production (HDP) earlier compared to those fed control diet and Diet 5(100% replacement) which indicated almost similar values. Weekly HDP was depressed with increasing dietary level of YPM but only significantly so at weeks 23 and 24 with particular reference to Diets 4 and 5. This was about the same trend with average weekly egg weight. Conclusively, substituting maize with YPM in pullet diets hastened sexual maturity and improved laying performance.