EFFECTS OF SODIUM BICARBONATE SALT AND TURMERIC POWDER ON EXTERNAL EGG QUALITY OF ISA BROWN HENS

Abstract

A 112-day (16 weeks) study was carried out to investigate the effects of sodium bicarbonate salt and turmeric powder on external egg quality of Isa brown hens. The experiment was conducted at the poultry unit of Department of Animal Production Abubukar Tafawa Balewa University located in Gubi, Bauchi during the rainy season from July to October. A total of one hundred and eighty four (184) Isa Brown hens were used for the research. The result showed that increasing levels of sodium bicarbonate salt and turmeric powder had no significant effect on external egg quality. Egg weight (63.76± 0.19), egg circumference (14.30± 0.12) mm, egg diameter (4.53± 0.06) mm, shell thickness (0.46± 0.4) mm and shell egg proportion (8.46± 0.10) g. July and September recorded the highest value for egg weights which shows that there were significant variations among the months of the rainy season. From the observations of this study it was concluded that increasing levels of sodium bicarbonate salt and turmeric powder had no significant effect on external egg quality of Isa brown hens, however external egg quality was significantly (P<0.001) different among the months of the rainy season. It was also concluded that there exist a negative correlation between egg weight and shell thickness.