2026 Vol-6 Issue-1 | EFFECTS OF BOILED UNRIPE PLANTAIN (Musa paradisiaca cv. 'Cadava') PEEL FLOUR ON LAYING PERFORMANCE, HAEMATOLOGY AND PRODUCTION ECONOMICS OF ISA BROWN LAYERS

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of diets containing Boiled Unripe Plantain Peel Flour (BUPPF) on laying performance, haematology, and production economics of lsa Brown layers. One hundred and fifty-six 18-week-old ISA Brown laying hens were randomly divided into 3 dietary treatments, with 4 replicates per treatment consisting of 13 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Diets contain 0% (control), 10% (T1) and 20% (T2) BUPPF as a replacement for maize offal. The hens were fed ad libitum experimental diets and water for six weeks. Data were collected on Egg Weight, egg mass, Hen Day Egg Production, Average Feed Intake (AFI), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin, Red Blood Cell (HRBC), White Blood Cell (WBC), platelets, lymphocytes, heterophils, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, ingredient cost, feed cost, revenue, gross margin, efficiency of egg production and benefits cost ratio of laying hens fed experimental diets. All data collected were analysed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that laying hens fed BUPPF diets (T1 and T2) had significantly (P<0.05) higher AFI (103.8g; 98.28g) than those fed control diet (89.18g). Laying hens fed control diet had significantly higher (P˂0.05) white blood cells count 9(15.88x10 cells/L) and ingredients cost (159.66₦/kg) than those fed BUPPF diets (14.13 9 9x10 cells/L; 14.17 x10 cells/L and 155.66₦/kg; 151.66₦/kg). Conclusively, BUPPF diets improved AFI and reduced the ingredient cost of laying hens. Therefore, boiled unripe plantain peel flour can be included up to 20% in the diets of laying hens without deleterious effect on the hens.