The Effects of Feeding Millet on Growth, Laying And Hatching Performance Of Pure Fayoumi Breed

The effects of feeding graded levels of two local millet cultivars (Baioda and Heriheri) on growth, egg production, fertility and egg hatchability of pure Fayoumi stock were investigated. The millet cultivars were incorporated in starter, grower and layer experimental diets, at levels of 20, 40 and 60% of the diets, in replacement of sorghum grain in a basal control diet. The control and the millet cultivar diets were fed to Fayoumi pure breed birds during the respective starter, grower and laying periods. The feeding of graded levels of these millet cultivars did not have significant effects on mean total feed intake or total liveweight gain of the experimental birds during the starter period, while these effects were significant (P< 0.05) during the growing period. Some statistical differences in weekly feed intake (P< 0.05) and weekly liveweight gain (P< 0.05) were obtained during the last weeks of the growing period. There was a general pattern of increased feed consumption from the control sorghum-based diet and the diets containing graded levels of Baioda millet cultivars. The mean total liveweight gain during the starter period was highest on the Heriheri millet diets, followed by Baioda millet cultivar diet and was least on the control sorghum-based diet. This effect was reversed during the growing period, where the birds fed the control and Baioda millet cultivar diets attained higher liveweight gain than the birds fed on the Heriheri millet diets. The experiment revealed marked sex differences in liveweight gain, during the growing period in favour of the male birds, irrespective of the dietary treatments. Similarly the dietary treatments did not have significant effects on liveweight at point of lay (18 weeks of age). Feeding graded levels of both millet cultivars resulted in a significant (P <0.05) reduction in the thyroid gland weight, but without differences in relative thyroid weight, triiodothyronine (T3) or thyroxin (T4) serum concentrations, while a significant (P<0.05) increase in the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was observed for the birds fed the control sorghum-based diet. There were also no histological changes in the thyroid gland tissues. There was a significant (P<0.05) improvement in egg production rate, egg mass production and feed conversion efficiency of the birds fed the millet cultivars diets compared to that of the birds fed the sorghumbased diet. Feeding millet cultivars also resulted in improved egg weight, eggshell thickness, egg specific gravity and egg yolk colour score. The fertility and hatchability of the eggs laid by the birds fed both millet cultivars were significantly (P<0.01) improved compared to those of the eggs of the birds fed the sorghum-based diet. The diets containing Heriheri millet cultivar exhibited significant (P< 0.01) improvement in all hatching parameters compared to those of the diets containing Baioda millet cultivar. A significant positive correlation between egg production rate and the hatchability of the egg set was observed. There were no significant differences in hatched chick weights, but a significant positive correlation between egg weight and hatched chick weight was observed. The mortality of the experimental birds was very low during the starter and growing periods, and there was no mortality during the laying period. It can be generally implied that, under the conditions of this study, the experimental millet cultivars can be utilized effectively in layers and breeders diets to support satisfactory egg production and hatchability.