Evaluation of small barbus silage through inclusion into commercially formulated poultry feed

The aim of the present study was to produce fish silage by formic acid fermentation and evaluate its use in feeding of Lohman brown. A total of twenty five 120 day old Lohman brown were used for the experiment. A 24 weeks experiment was conducted to investigate the utilization of a diet based on commercial poultry feed and silage. Five diets containing various levels of fish silage (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8%) were evaluated. The birds were weighed and allotted to five pens containing five birds each. Daily feed intake, number and weight of egg laid were daily measured. Body weight was measured monthly. The highest average feed intake was recorded in treatment four (135.89 ± 7.82) g/ poultry in which 6 % of silage was included into commercial diet. The highest body weight obtained was (1968.00 ± 119.39) during 33rd week in which 6 % of silage was included into commercial diet. The highest average weight of egg (68.59 ± 4.96) was observed in T4 (6% silage included). It was concluded that addition of 6% fish silage into commercial poultry diet increased early egg laying, feed intake, body weight gain, egg production and average weight of eggs. Laying hen fed on 6% silage gained average weight of 649 gram, average egg number (117) and egg weight (60 gram) for feeding period of 24 weeks. Keywords: Silage; small barbus; poultry; feed intake; weight gain; egg production