110
PROTEINS FOR EGG PRODUCTION
[Vol. XX, Part II,
A better egg production was obtained in group 3 where earthnut meal was used as
the protein supplement. The production figure was 27.3 for 12 weeks or 32.5 per
cent. This figure compares well with the figures of 33.5 per cent obtained by
Macdonald and Bose [1943] for the same protein supplement, although it should be
mentioned that in this experiment the birds were Rhode Island Reds, and the cereal
base was slightly inferior to that used by the above workers. In this experiment
wheat and paddy were omitted and instead only jowar, which does not have a high
biological value, [Mukherjee and Parthasarathy, 1948], was used. Nevertheless
better production 33.2 eggs for the experimental period or 39.4 per cent was obtained
in group 2 where rape cakemeal was used.
It appears therefore that rape cake can be used with advantage as a protein
supplement in the ration of laying hens.
This information has considerable
potentialities for poultry keepers particularly in Northern India where the cake is
abundant. The best egg production figure 34.4 or 4.08 per cent was obtained in
group 5 in which meat offal was the protein supplement. This is slightly less than
the figure 44.3 per cent obtained by Macdonald and Bose [1943]. As already stated
their cereal base was better and their birds were of a different breed (Leghorn).
In group 4 in which fish meal was used the production figure was 31.1 or 37.0 per
cent. Fish meal has been found to be a good protein supplement by many workers,
and the quality of eggs also is reported to be quite good [Marble, Nicholes and
Knandel, 1938] but in this particular experiment unfortunately the fish meal used
was not of the right quality. This experiment emphasises the need to analyse the
individual feeds before the commencement of the experiment, as that would give
an idea of the quality, and also an idea of the proportions in which they should be
used.
In all the groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 the egg production was increased to a varying
degree by the addition of protein supplement whether of vegetable or animal origin.
The lowest egg size was obtained in group 1 getting the basal mash alone.
In group 2 getting rape cake meal the egg weight was only a little better. The
maximum egg weight 2.11 oz. was obtained in group 4, on fish meal as supplement.
The egg weight in group 5 which was getting meat offal was 2.05 oz. In group 3
getting earthnut meal the weight was a little better—2.08 which might be due to
the fact that the body weight was also a little higher. But on the whole the average
egg weight was satisfactory in all the groups.
Food consumption was greatest in group 2 getting rape cake meal. Next in
order came group 4 which was on fish meal; group 3 (earthnut group) had a lower
food consumption while group 5 (meat offal group) was lower still. In the experi-
ment of Macdonald and Bose [1943] the meat offal group had greater food consump-
tion than the other vegetable protein supplemented groups. In group 1 the food
consumption was lowest. The average food consumption in all the groups was on
the whole satisfactory.
The utilisation of food or the efficiency with which the food was utilised for
production of eggs, as expressed by the number of pounds of feed to produce 1 egg
is indicated in Table V. It will be seen that group 5 was the most efficient. Next
came group 2, 4. 3 and 1 in order of decreasing efficiency. Group 4 was not so
efficient as one might expect probably because the fish meal was not of a good