Feno da folha de leucena na alimentação de poedeiras

Abstract

This research was conducted with the objective to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of the leucaena leaf meal (LLM) in diets on nutrients digestibility, performance and egg characteristics of commercial laying hens. A total of 216 laying hens Hisex Brown, with 32 weeks of age was weighed and allotted to a completely randomized design with six treatments and six replicates of six birds in each treatment. Treatments consisted of a diet formulated with corn and other five formulated with sorghum containing 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% of LLM. Linear reduction was observed for the inclusion levels of LLM on digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DCDM), crude protein (DCCP), gross energy (DCGE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and on the values of aparent metabolizable energy (AME) and the apparent metabolizable energy corrected by nitrogen balance (AMEn). However the digestibility coefficient of ether extract (DCEE) increased linearly with the inclusion levels of LLM in diets. It was observed a linear reduction on egg production and AMEn ingestion as LLM increased in diets. Hens fed diets containing 8% of LLM presented significantly lower egg production and lower ingestion of EMAn in relation to the birds fed the control diet. The inclusion of LLM provided linear increase on egg yolk colour. The inclusion of 2% of LLM in diet proportionate egg yolks with superior pigmentation than that obtained with diets containing corn. The values of Haugh units decreased with diet containing 6% of LLM inclusion. According to the results LLM can be included up to 4% FFL in laying hen diets formulated with sorghum.