Use of Enzymes to Supplement Diets Containing Date Waste Meal for Lohmann White Layers

Abstract

The current research objective was to determine the effect of enriched layers diets containing date waste meal (DWM) with a commercially prepared enzymes mixture on White Lohmann laying hens performance. Lohmann LSL-Classic White layers of (24-weeks old; n = 192) were randomly assigned to 8 groups of 24 birds each. Four formulated diets of 18% crude protein which contained 0, 5, 10 and/ or 15% DWM as a replacement for yellow corn, each diet was supplemented with of kemzyme (EZ) at 1 gm/kg diet until 44 weeks of age. Results showed that body weights and body weight changes due to 15% DWM inclusion and EZ supplementation were improved. Egg production, egg weight and feed conversion ratio were improved by EZ supplementation to diets containing 15% DWM. Enzyme and DWM supplementation to experimental diets had a positive effect on salmonella and E. Coli as well as fungi counts in the gastrointestinal tract. Also, EZ supplementation had improved nutrients digestibility coefficient of diets that contained higher DWM levels. Plasma total lipids were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased with higher DWM levels, while total lipids of fresh eggs were higher than that of stored eggs. On the other hand, EZ supplementation had no significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) in this respect. Inclusion of 15% DWM significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved shell thickness and Haugh units with higher DWM levels. No significant differences were recorded for yolk color or index due to either of the dietary treatments. It is concluded that DWM can be included in laying diets as an alternative dietary ingredient up to 10% with no adverse effects on production, and showed an improvement on performance when compared to that of the control diet supplemented with enzymes mixture.