Enhancing nutrient intake, egg production, and egg quality by fermented Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal in a diet of laying quail

Summary

This controlled feeding trial evaluated five dietary inclusion levels of fermented Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal (0–8%) in laying quail over 28 days, examining whether fermentation sufficiently reduces mimosine and fibre content to make the leaf meal a viable protein supplement. The paper contributes evidence on the use of locally available, underutilised leguminous tree foliage as a low-cost feed ingredient in smallholder poultry systems. Results are likely to indicate an optimal inclusion level at which productive and egg quality parameters are maintained or improved without adverse anti-nutritional effects, though specific findings should be verified against the published article.

UK applicability

This study is conducted in a tropical context, likely Indonesia, and the use of Leucaena leucocephala is specific to tropical and subtropical agroforestry systems not found in the UK. However, the broader principle of using fermentation to reduce anti-nutritional factors in alternative protein sources has relevance to UK efforts to diversify poultry feed ingredients and reduce reliance on imported soya.

Key measures

Nutrient intake (energy, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus); feed conversion ratio (FCR); egg production (%); egg weight (g); eggshell thickness (mm); Haugh unit score; yolk colour score

Outcomes reported

The study measured nutrient intake, egg production, egg weight, eggshell thickness, Haugh unit score, yolk colour, and feed conversion ratio in laying quails fed increasing levels of fermented Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal. It assessed whether fermentation effectively reduces anti-nutritional factors such as mimosine and crude fibre to permit safe dietary inclusion.

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