Body weight changes and follicular development of pre-lay pullets on maize-soy diets supplemented with an exogenous microbial enzyme
2007
Navaporn Chauynarong(University of New England, New South Wales (Australia). Faculty of Science. School of Rural Science and Agriculture) | Iji, Paul(University of New England, New South Wales (Australia). Faculty of Science. School of Rural Science and Agriculture) | Supaporn Isariyodom(Kasetsart University. Bangkhen Campus, Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture. Department of Animal Science) | Choct, Mingan(University of New England, New South Wales (Australia). Faculty of Science. School of Rural Science and Agriculture) | Mikkelsen, Lene(University of New England, New South Wales (Australia). Faculty of Science. School of Rural Science and Agriculture)
Experiment was conducted to examine the benefits of supplementing maize-soy diets with a composite microbial enzyme, Allzyme SSF, for laying hens at the pullet stage. Seven hundred and twenty (720) 12-week old Isa Brown pullets were used in the different level of protein content diets. In experiment, feed intake from 12 to 16 weeks of age was unaffected by the enzyme supplement, except at the lowest protein content (P LT 0.05). Feed intake was, however, affected by the enzyme supplement between 16 and 20 weeks (P LT 0.001) and over the entire trial period (P LT 0.05). Body weight at 16 weeks of age was reduced (P LT 0.05) on the control low-protein diet. Feed conversion ratio was not affected by dietary protein content or through supplementation with the microbial enzyme. The relative weight of the ovary was reduced (P LT 0.01) on the low protein control diet. Onset of lay occurred from about 23 weeks of age, after the hens were already on a commercial diet but effects of previous dietary treatments on early egg production were noticeable. The current results suggest that supplemental Allzyme SSF is beneficial to growing pullets on low protein diets, and the supplement supports egg production in early lay.
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