Effect of feeding different levels of sunflower seed meal on laying hens performance

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding various levels of sunflower seed 
meal (SSM) on hens performance of laying and on egg quality. Four dietary treatments of four 
levels of SSM (0, 10, 20 and 30%) were used. Each treatment was assigned randomly to a group 
of 60 birds. The birds were raised in battery cages for 13 weeks. Parameters measured were rate 
of lay, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, egg weight, shape index, shell 
thickness and egg yolk colour. Results showed that feeding different levels of SSM had no 
significant effect (p > 0.05) on the parameters measured except feed conversion and egg yolk (p 
< 0.05). The results of this study suggest that up to 30% SSM can be included in laying hens diet 
without adverse effect on performance or egg quality