An evaluation of soybean-based rations for intensive egg production in Malawi
1992
Munthali, J.T.K. | Cusack, T.J. | Jere, C.H. (Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, Lilongwe (Malawi))
The performance of hybrid layers fed a commercial ration based on maize and imported fishmeal was compared with the performances of layers fed seven researcher-prepared alternative formulations based on 25% whole soyabeans by weight. Feed Conversion Efficiencies for the layers fed the prepared rations averaged 38.6%, compared to 32.8% for those fed the commercial ration. The financial Margins Over Feed Costs for layers fed the prepared rations averaged 52% higher than the margins for layers fed the commercial ration. It was concluded that compounders should incorporate soyabeans into rations for layers in order to improve productivity, reduce costs, improve and stabilise feed quality, promote domestic agricultural development, and to save foreign exchange. Within the group of prepared rations, supplementation with a combination of meat-and-bone meal, domestic fishmeal and DL-Methionine gave higher production responses and superior economic performance, compared to using rations containing only one of these additional ingredients
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