Abstract

An experiment was undertaken in Haramaya University to find out the effect of replacing Soybean meal (SBM) by processed kidney bean (PKB) on egg quality parameters. To carry out the experiment, 180 white leghorn hens of similar initial body weight of 1121.17 g ± 24.92 and 6.5 months of age and 30 cocks were randomly distributed into five treatments using complete randomized design (CRD). Each treatment consisting 12 layers and 2 cocks was replicated three times.  PKB replaced SBM at a rate of 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100% for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. The optimum amount of biological and economic level of SBM (26%) recommended in layers’ ration in the Haramaya University poultry farm was used as a basis of replacement. Three eggs per replicate or 9 eggs per treatment were collected every two weeks to assess egg shell weight, shell thickness, albumen weight and height, Haugh unit and egg yolk weight and color. All qualitative egg quality parameters were analyzed by general logistic regression model while all quantitative egg quality parameters were analyzed by general linear model. The results showed no significant eggshell weight, albumin height, albumin weight, yolk height, yolk weight, and yolk diameter and yolk index among treatments.  Yolk color of the layers fed T5 was significantly yellow compared to groups offered T1 and T2.  It is concluded that PKB can replace SBM up to 75% (195 g/kg) without adverse effect on egg quality.

Key words: Egg weight, egg yolk, Haugh unit, shell thickness, yolk color