Abstract

Aim: The study was aimed to investigate the effect of dietary Plumeria rubra pod meal (PRPM) as a natural alternative to antibiotic on the growth performance, egg laying and carcass yield of Isa Brown Layer birds.

Method and materials:  A total of sixty points of lay birds were randomly weighed and assigned to four dietary treatments having 15 birds in each. Each dietary treatment had three replicates of 5 birds and was reared in floor pens. Birds were distributed in 4 different inclusion levels of PRPM in diets; 0.0%, 10.0%, 15.0% and 20.0% respectively. The birds were fed the experimental diets and water was provided ad-libitum throughout the experimental period.

Results: The results showed that significant (P<0.05) effect on final body weight and weight gain in dietary supplementation of 15% PRPM as compared to that of control group. Better feed conversion (1.53) was observed at 15% PRPM group. Different levels of PRPM exhibit significant influence on egg laying performance of layers. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) observed among the average live weight, thigh meat, wing meat and drumstick meat.  Lower mortality was found on diet supplemented with PRPM.

Conclusion: It was concluded that 15% PRPM in layer diets can be used as natural feed additive for enhancing growth performance and egg lay in layer production.

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