EFFECTS OF GARLIC, AMARANTHUS, BAOBAB AND TIGER NUTS AS NUTRACEATICALS IN NERA BLACK HENS’ RATION..

Garlic bulbs, amaranthus leaves, baobab leaves, and tiger nuts have been shown to have bioactive efficacies and functional phytochemical components in livestock and human health, but little is known regarding their use as mixed additives in laying hens to boost efficiency.

As a result, the aim of this study was to see how integrating processed garlic bulbs, amaranthus leaves, baobab leaves, and tiger nuts into a formulated layers ration fed to Nera Black hens affected production and egg quality. Processed garlic bulbs, amaranthus leaves, baobab leaves, and tiger nuts were proportionally included in a formulated layers ration and fed to 240 Nera.Black hens weighing between 1.3kg and 1.6kg at 22 weeks of age. Weight gain, feed utilisation, hen day yield, and egg quality were all tracked over the course of the six-week study in five experimental groups, each with 48 hens. T1 (control): no nutraceaticals; T2: garlic bulbs (0.5%) and amaranthus leaves (2.0%); T3: garlic bulbs (0.5%) and baobab leaves (2.0%); T4: garlic bulbs (0.5%) and tiger nuts (2.0%); and T5: garlic bulbs (0.5%), amaranthus leaves (0.67%), baobab leaves (0.67%), and tiger nuts (2.0%). (0.67 percent ).

T5 gained the most weight (1.9kg), followed by 1.82kg in control, but the feed was used more efficiently in control (1.23)T3 (1.24) and T2 (1.24) (1.25). The handled hens had the best egg weight (47.68 – 49.87g), compared to 43.98g in the control hens. T5 had a higher hen day production rate of 20.76 percent compared to 17.15 percent in the control group. The treated hens' eggshell weight appeared to be higher, varying from 4.585.08g, compared to 4.39g in the control group. T5 had the highest yolk height (0.89cm), albumen pH (9.22), yolk pH (6.75), and Haugh unit (135.92HU).Since the values of all the parameters across the treatments compared favourably with the reference values recorded, garlic bulbs, amaranthus leaves, baobab leaves, and tiger nuts in the layers ration can improve performance with little to no negative consequences.

Please see the link - https://ikprress.org/index.php/JOBARI/article/view/5934