Evaluation of zerofly hermetic and polypropylene bags for preserving maize for improved layer production in Ghana

Storage methods for grains is an important determinant in the preservation of quality of grains used for the preparation of poultry feed. A study was undertaken to assess the performance of layer chickens fed maize stored in polypropylene (PP) and ZeroFly Hermetic (ZFH) bags. Maize was stored in 100-kg PP and ZFH bags for 6 months. There was 9,600 kg for each type of bag. The stored maize was then used to formulate feed using Koudjis 50%-layer concentrate, and the feed was used as diet for 1080 day-old Lohmann Brown Classic chicks (Lohmann Tierzucht Germany) for a period of 32 weeks. The two dietary treatments for this study were feed from white maize stored in ZFH and PP bags with storage method being the only source of variation. The average body weight, average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, egg production, egg weight and average daily egg mass were measured or computed for birds in the two treatments. Birds fed ZFH maize treatment had significantly (p<0.05) heavier body weights at the ends of the starter, grower, developer, pre-lay and layer 1 stages which were 4, 12, 17, 19 and 32 weeks of age (188.00 ± 1.03, 962.50 ± 6.01, 1382.00 ± 3.90, 1509.33 ± 6.30, and 1923.50 ± 12.32 g, respectively) than birds fed PP maize treatment. There were no significant differences in ADFI of birds fed treatments PP and ZFH at pre-starter (ADFI-1), starter (ADFI-4), grower (ADFI-12), developer (ADFI-17) and pre-lay (ADFI-19) phases of development. Birds on PP treatment (120.40 ± 1.32 g/day) however, had significantly (p<0.05) higher ADFI at the layer 1 period than those on treatment ZFH (115.64 ± 1.23 g/day). Egg production parameters (hen-day egg production, average egg weight, average daily egg mass) and FCR were better and favourable for birds on treatment ZFH bags compared to those on PP bags at 20, 24, 28, and 32 weeks of age. There was no significant difference in the percentage mortality of birds fed PP and ZFH maize. The favourable values of most of the layer production indicators of birds fed ZFH maize compared to PP maize is an indication that ZFH bags preserve maize quality better than PP bags. Hence, the nutrient qualities of maize stored in ZFH bags are better retained for utilization by layer birds. Key words: Maize, storage, polypropylene, ZeroFly-Hermetic, bag, poultry, growth, egg-production