REPRODUCTIVE RESPONSE TO INCLUSION OF GRADED LEVELS OF Ipomoea purpurea LEAF MEAL MORNING GLORY) IN DIETS OF LAYING CHICKENS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51406/jagse.v14i2.1436Keywords:
Ipomoea purpurea, laying hens, egg fertility, hatchabilityAbstract
Reproductive responses of laying birds fed Ipomea purpurea leaf meal (IPML) were investigated. A
total of 40, 25-weeks old birds grouped into four treatments of 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% inclusion levels of
IPML were used for this experiment in a completely randomized design layout. The birds were artifi-
cially inseminated with semen from cockerels on controlled diet thrice in a week. A total of 400 eggs
were collected and set in an incubator. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in Hen day pro-
duction, feed/dozen eggs and the egg characteristics investigated. The blood glucose levels signifi-
cantly decreased (p<0.05) while level of progesterone significantly increased (p<0.05) with increase in
level of IPLM inclusion. The percentages of fertility and hatchability were high while the survivability
was 100%. It can be concluded that IPLM inclusion level of up to 7.50% supports high fertility, hatcha-
bility and survivability and could be used in breeder diets for the production of fertile eggs.