The effect of dietary mutrient density and number of hens per cage on layer performance in two different cage types
1988
Jackson, M.E. | Waldroup, P.W.
Using two types of cage systems (deep and shallow), factorial studies were conducted with three hen densities (three, four, and five birds per cage) and three nutrient density levels (2565, 2850, and 3135 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME) with essential nutrients maintained in a constant ratio to energy). Conditions were representative of commercial operations with feeding, egg collection, and manure removal fully automated. The birds were placed on test at 23 weeks of age and maintained for 34 weeks. A significant diet X hen density interaction was observed for egg production in each of the two cage types, where increasing the dietary nutrient level ameliorated the adverse effect of increasing hen density, particularly from three to four birds per cage. Results indicate that under commercial-like conditions, increasing the plane of nutrition can partially alleviate the decreased egg production resulting from increased hen density.
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