Across many palm-growing communities, empty palm bunches are either discarded or burned without further use, despite their longstanding recognition in indigenous farming as ash with healing and nutritive qualities. This study revisits this ancestral knowledge by preparing an edible-grade ash from empty palm bunches and examining its value in the diets of laying hens. Palm bunch residues were collected from a local palm mill, sun-dried, and ashed following customary practice. The ash was washed and filtered to reduce its potassium content, producing a milder formulation suitable for feed inclusion. Diets were formulated with 0.10 kg, 0.15 kg and 0.20 kg of treated ash per 100 kg feed as partial replacement for common salt, alongside a control without ash. Two hundred and forty laying birds were fed these diets over twelve weeks. Birds given the ash-supplemented diets—particularly at 0.10 kg and 0.15 kg—laid more eggs and produced stronger shells than the control group. These groups also yielded higher profits compared to conventional feed, validating indigenous knowledge that palm ash contributes not only minerals but vitality to livestock rearing. Copper and zinc values increased, while sodium and magnesium levels declined, reflecting improved natural mineral balance. This work demonstrates that an indigenous agricultural by-product can enhance productivity, reduce dependence on purchased salt, and improve profitability. Reviving the use of treated palm bunch ash therefore represents both ecological wisdom and economic advantage rooted in local knowledge systems.

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Keywords

Layers; Palm Bunch Ash; Minerals; Poultry Feed