Effect of feeding Manihot esculenta Crantz on egg production in laying hens

Abstract

Background: Corn imported from the United States of America is used in southeastern Mexico to produce feed for laying hens. Objective: To evaluate Manihot esculenta Crantz (cassava) flour as a substitute for corn in feed for laying hens for egg production and quality. Methodology: A total of ninety 50-week-old hens with an average live weight of 1.512 ± 0.13 kg were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments containing 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% or 40% cassava flour, using a completely randomised design. Results: The highest feed intake was observed in hens fed the diet containing 40% cassava (P 0.05). Similarly, egg length, egg width, shell thickness, shell weight, albumen and yolk characteristics, and Haugh units did not differ between treatments (P>0.05). Implications: The results suggest that local egg producers could replace up to 82% of corn with cassava in laying hen diets, thereby reducing their dependence on corn imports. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that incorporating up to 40% cassava meal instead of corn in the diet of laying hens does not compromise egg production, egg quality, or the economic efficiency of egg production.