Duckweed in Irrigation Water as a Replacement of Soybean Meal in the Laying Hens Diet

Zakaria, HAShammout, MW

ABSTRACT Water lentils (Duckweed [DW])(Lemna gibba), in irrigation ponds, was evaluated by replacing two levels of soybean meal (SBM) on performance and egg quality of laying hens of 54 weeks of age. A total of 72 white Lohmann laying hens were randomly allocated into 3 treatments with 6 replicates/treatment, 4 hens/replicate in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were: control group (DW0%) with (SBM) as the main source of protein, T1 (DW10%) and T2 (DW20%), where duckweed replaced 10% and 20% of SBM for 9 weeks. No significant differences were observed among the dietary treatments in body weight change, feed conversion ratio, egg weight and mortality rate. Replacement with (DW20%) decreased (p 0.05) feed intake, egg laying rate and egg mass. The dry albuminin (DW10%) decreased (p 0.05) from 7 to 9 weeks and in the total period. Yolk pigmentation was highly (p 0.001) improved by the replacement. Blood spots were increased (p 0.05) with (DW20%). Duckweed grown in good quality irrigation water can replace up to 10% of the SBM as a source of protein without adverse effects on hen performance and egg quality in addition to profitability.

1. egg production
2. water quality
3. alternative protein source
4. Lemna Gibba
5. yolk pigmentation