Elsevier

Poultry Science

Volume 69, Issue 11, 1 November 1990, Pages 1835-1844
Poultry Science

Education and Production
Duckweed, A Useful Strategy for Feeding Chickens: Performance of Layers Fed with Sewage-Grown Lemnacea Species

https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0691835Get rights and content
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open access

Abstract

Layer performance and egg quality were assessed in hens fed sewage-grown Lemna species (duckweed) in order to examine the safety and efficacy of this plant as a feedstuff for poultry. Dried Lemna gibba was included in the diets of two commercial strains of laying hens at 0, 15, 25, and 40% inclusion. Egg production and egg weights were compared with those of hens fed a standard isocaloric and isonitrogenous control diet At all levels of Lemna, hens maintained egg production and had mean egg weights similar to layers fed a control diet. Eggs from Leghorn hens fed 15 and 25% Lemna had higher protein content than control eggs. Also, the addition of Lemna to the diets significantly increased yolk pigmentation, an important commercial value for this plant. Lemna species may be a useful substitute for soybean and some fish meal in layer hen diets, especially in countries where some of these commodities are imported.

Key words

layers
duckweed
egg quality
egg production
yolk pigmentation

Cited by (0)

1

Present address: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Apartado 5045, Lima, Peru.

2

Send all mail to Robert H. Gilman, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of International Health, Division of Disease Control, 615 Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205.