Evaluation of the effects of rations with different levels of metabolizable energy on performance of laying hens

Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology

علی Nobakht ¹ , H.R Hassanzadeh ² , سامان Mahdavi ³

1 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture Science, Islamic Azad University, Marage Branch, Marage, Iran
2 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture Science, Islamic Azad University, Marage Branch, Marage, Iran
3 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture Science, Islamic Azad University, Marage Branch, Marage, Iran

Received: 2009-04-28 Accepted : 2009-10-23 Published : 2009-05-22

Keywords: Performance, laying hen, Egg traits, energy level,

Abstract :

 This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of rations with different levels of energy on performance of laying hens. The experiment was conducted with two hundred and fifty six laying hens of commercial Hi-Line W-36 strain in a completely randomized design with 4 treatment and 4 replicates (16 laying hens in each replicate). Treatments included: (1) diet with amount of metabolizable energy recommended by NRC 1994 (as control group),   (2) diet with 10% higher level of metabolizable energy than recommended by NRC 1994, (3) diet with 10% lower level of metabolizable energy than recommended by NRC 1994 and (4) diet with 15% lower level of metabolizable energy than recommended by NRC 1994 that were used for 10 weeks (from 41 to 51 weeks of age). The results indicated that the amount of feed intake was significantly different among treatments (p<0.05). The highest amount of feed intake (130.50 g) was observed in treatment four with 15% lower level of metabolizable energy than recommended by NRC 1994. The amount of feed price was also significantly different between treatments (p<0.05). The lowest feed price per kilogram of egg produced (5705 Rials) was observed in treatment four with 15% lower level of metabolizable energy than recommended by NRC 1994. There were no significant differences in egg traits among treatments. It can be concluded that using diets with 15% lower level of metabolizable energy than recommended by NRC 1994 in laying hens, can reduce feed costs without affecting egg traits.    

References:

1. زهری، م. ع. (1375): پدیده‌های نو در تغذیه طیور، دانش مرغداری، جلد هفتم، انتشارات صفی علیشاه، صفحات: 136-125.


2. مبارک قدم، م. (1377): مقایسه عملکرد چند گروه از مرغان هیبرید تخم‌گذار تولید شده در ایران. پایان‌نامه کارشناسی ارشد رشته علوم دامی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد خوراسگان، صفحه: 102.


3. Bohnsack, C.R., Harms, R.H., Merkel, W.D. and Russell, G.B. (2002): Performance of commercial layers when fed diets with four contents of corn oil or poultry fat. J. Appl. Poult. Res., 11: 68-76.


4. Cheng, T.K., Hamre, M.C. and Coon, C.N. (1997): Effect of environmental temperature, dietary protein and energy levels on broiler performance. J. App. Poult. Res., 6: 1-17.


5. Courtis, J.A. and Wilson G.C. (1990): Egg Quality Handbook. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Austeralia.


6. Degroote, G. (1972): Amarginal income and cost analysis of the effect of nutrient density on the performance of white Leghorn hens in battery cages. Brit. Poult. Sci., 13: 503-520.


7. Grobas, S., Mendez, J., Blas, C.D. and Mateos, G.G. (1999): Laying hens productivity as affected by energy, supplemental fat and linoleic acid concentration of the diet. Poult. Sci., 78: 1542-1551.


8. Harms, R.H., Russell, G.B. and Sloan, D.R. (2000): Performance of four strains of commercial layers with major changes in dietary energy. J. Appl. Poult. Res., 9: 535-541.


9. Kuchinski, K.K. and Harms, R.H. (1993): Feeding reduced nutrient diets for short periods to commercial layers. J. App. Poult. Res., 2: 302-313.


10. Lessons, S., Caston, L. and Summers, J.D. (1996):  Broiler responses to diet energy. Poult. Sci., 75: 529- 535.


11. National Research Council (NRC). (1994): Nutrient Requirements of Poultry. 9th rev. ed., National Academy Press. Washington. DC.


12. SAS Institute. (2005): SAS Users Guide: Statistics. Version 9.12.  SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.


13. Sell, J.L. (1985): Effective use of supplemental fats in poultry diets. Pages 1-17 in proc California Nutr. Conf., California Grain and Feed Association, Fresno, California.


14. Shutze, J.V. (1992): Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, C.A. 30602. Press. Comm.


15. Sohail, S.S., Bryant, M.M. and Roland, S.D.A. (2003): Influence of dietary fat on economic returns of commercial Leghorns. J. Appl. Poult. Res., 12: 356- 361.


16. Summers, J.D. and Lesson, S. (1993): Influence of diets varying in nutrient density on the development and reproductive performance of White Leghorn pullets. Poult. Sci., 72: 1500-1509.


17. Wu, G., Bryant, M.M., Voitle, R.A. and Roland, S. (2005): Effects of dietary energy on performance and egg composition of Bovans white and Dekalb white hens during phase1. Poult. Sci., 84: 1610-1615.