Effects of alternative non-feed removal methods for induced moulting on performances and egg quality traits of white layers
2013
Cinar, M.
The effect of different induced molting methods alternative to feed withdrawal method on egg production and quality was evaluated so as to reveal an alternative applicable method to fasting. A total 528 laying hens of commercial white strain (Super Nick), 82 wk of age, were used in the present study. The hens were randomly divided into 4 groups each comprising 132 hens with 6 replicates. The 4 molting programs were feed withdrawal for 12 days (CN), whole-grain barley for 14 days (WB), whole-grain wheat for 14 days (WW) and feed restriction (FR). During the molting period, the highest body weight loss was observed in CN group (28.21 %), followed by values as 27.12 %, 23.12 and 18.39 % in WB, WW and FR treatments, respectively. Induction hens to molt by different methods statistically significant influenced (P<0.01) egg production rate, egg weight, egg mass and shelless egg rate while showed no effect on feed intake, feed conversion rate, cracked-broken egg ratio and total egg yield (P>0.05). Internal and external egg quality indices was not statistically affected by molting treatments either (P>0.05). Data obtained in the present study clearly showed that WW, WB and FR methods, which allows limited amount of feed intake during molting, offer reasonable alternatives to that feed-withdrawal method, has been applied with great success over several decades. However, observations regarding the relatively more body weight loss and expected regression in productive organs while reduction in shelless egg rate favours the WB method among the programs examined.
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