Substitution effect of Soybean Meal (glycine max) with different level of Dried Water Velvet (Azolla Pinnata) Meal on Egg production and Egg Quality parameter of Potchefstroom Koekoek layer

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of partial substitution of Soybean meal by AzollaPinnata (AZM) in the performances of layer chicken and also to determine the cost benefit analysis. One hundred eight Potchefstroom koekoek layer were randomly allocated to 4 treatment diets with 3 replications, each replicate consisted nine chickens. Experimental diets were prepared with control diet (treatment 1, T1) contained soybean meal as the major protein source without AZM and diets containing AZM at the levels of 50 g/kg (treatment 2, T2), 100 g/kg (treatment 3, T3), and 150 g/kg (treatment 4, T4) by partially substituting the soybean meal in the control diet. All production and economic data in the experiment were collected. The results obtained from the current study showed that substitution of AZM up to 150 g/kg did not significantly alter feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and egg production performance of the birds. However, higher (P<0.05) Hough units score, egg, albumen and yolk weight was observed at T2 and T3. Moreover, a significantly higher intense yolk color index was recorded as the level of AZM inclusion increased. The lowest marginal rate of return was recorded in control group while the highest revenue was recorded at T2 substitution of AZM. In conclusion, utilization of AZM might be cost effective protein source that can partially substitute soybean meal.