Using alternative feed in the control of domestic flies during the rearing of laying hens

Abstract

An experiment will be conducted in order to assess the effect of annatto and cassava inclusion in diets on the control of houseflies proliferation, as well as their effects on the performance and egg quality of laying hens. Will be housed 192 Lohmman® Brown hens, with 30 weeks of age, the birds will be arranged in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and 12 replications of four birds each. The treatments will be: CD, control diet based in corn; T1, 25% of corn replaced by cassava meal; T2, CD + 0.5% of grounded annatto seed; T4, 25% of corn replaced by cassava meal + 0.5% grounded annatto seed. For performance will be evaluated: feed intake, egg production, average egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion per dozen and per kilogram of eggs produced and the characteristics of egg quality. The development of flies will be assessed through hatching rate of eggs or larvae and adult mortality in excreta cultures.