EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GROUND PADDY IN LAYER RATION

Abstract

Different levels of ground paddy were used to replace corn and/or rice bran in layer rations to study their effect on egg production and quality. The energy source corn and rice bran in the layer ration was replaced by ground paddy at 0, 50, 75 and 100% with about 17% protein. Twenty-five weeks old of 192 Isabrown pullets were distributed to 8 groups of s replications each.  All birds were raised in individual laying cages with free acess of feed an water throughout the six 28-day periods (168 days). The laying hens receiving 100% of energy as ground paddy tended to produce less egg (66.06%) than those (69.53%) receiving practical layer ration. Feed consumption were significantly increased when other energy sources were replaced by ground paddy in the rations. No significant differences in egg production, kg. feed/doz eggs, mortality and egg quality were indicated when layers received rations in which the other energy sources were replaced by different levels of ground paddy. Conclusion was made that up to 75% of energy in the laying ration can be replaced by ground paddy without adverse effect on performance of egg production and quality.