THE USE OF CRUDE PALM OIL AND ITS PIGMENT ADSORBENT AS CAROTENE SOURCES IN THE DIET OF LAYING HENS

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to study the effect of carotene sources,
levels of β-carotene and vitamin A in the diet with their interactions on reproduction potency of laying hens which were fertility and hatchability. The experiment was arranged in completely randomised design in a 2x3x2 factorial lay out with three replications. The first factor was carotene sources with two levels i.e.: cnide palm oil and pigment adsorbent of crude palm oil. The second factor was β-carotene in the diet with three levels i.e. 0 IU/kg, 6000 IU/kg and 12000 IU/kg equivalent vitamin A. The third factor was vitamin A in the diet with two levels i.e.: 4000 IU/kg and 10000 IU/kg. The 12 dietary treatments were fed to three replicates of four birds each. Data collected were analysed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and continued with Contras Orthogonal Test. The result showed that level of β-carotene had significant efiect on reproduction potency, whereas the other factors and their interactions had no effect on reproduction potency of the hens. lt was also indicated that β-carotene as well as its interaction with vitamin A, had a significant linear effect on reproduction potency of the hens.