Effect of Different Levels of Shrimp Head Meal in Poultry Ration on The Growth Performance of Growing Pullets

ABSTRACT: The experiment was carried out at Dr. Purnendu Gain Field Laboratory, Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of substituting soybean meal by different levels of shrimp head meal in the ration of growing layer birds. A control corn-soybean layer grower diet and four different levels of shrimp head meal substituted for soybean meal (SBM) were fed to Hisex White hens from 5^th to 18^th weeks of age. The shrimp head meal (SHM) replaced @ 0, 25%, 50%, 75% and100% of SBM. The experiment was assigned at random to birds under 5 treatment groups having 3 replications in each. Number of birds in each replication was 20. The control group T₀ (100%SBM) was received grower ration formulated with traditional feed ingredients available in the locality. The others treatment groups (T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄) were replaced with shrimp head meal at the rate of 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, respectively. The daily feed intake and mortality were recorded. The body weight was recorded every 7 days after. Results of the study showed significant (P<0.05) difference in mortality. No mortality was observed in treatments T₃ (75%SHM&25%SBM) and T₄ (100%SHM). Feed intake increased significantly (p<0.01) when 100% SHM was used in the diet. No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in feed cost. However, numerically lowest feed cost for live weight gain was observed in T₄ (100%SHM). Weight at maturity was significantly (p<0.05) highest when 25% SHM was used in the diet. Daily feed consumption per bird increased significantly (p<0.01) with increasing shrimp head meal in the diet. No significant differences were observed for growth rate. It can be concluded from the findings that the substitution of 25% SHM is suitable for body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. However, no mortality was observed in 75% and 100% SHM groups.

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