Effect of Low Nutrient Density Diets and Certain Feed Additives on Performance of Laying Hens

摘要

A trial was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding low nutrient density diets with certain dietary agents on the egg production and nutrient metabolizability of layers (n=144). A practical type layer diet (BIS, 1992) served as control and test diets were prepared by replacing 10, 20 and 30 per cent of the control diet by a diluent feed ingredient i.e., sun-dried sugarcane press residue. Further, each diet was fortified with either lipid utilizing agents (lipase 100 units + lecithin 20 g/kg diet) or NSP degrading enzymes (xylanase 1000, beta-glucanase 400, cellulose 200, pectinase 100 units/kg feed) or together to result in another set of three diets. Each diet was offered to triplicate groups of three laying hens (35 wks old, BV-300 birds) each for 56d. The results revealed a significant (P<0.01) reduction in per cent egg production and feed consumption with the decreased diet nutrient density. The feed efficiency was also significantly (P<0.01) poorer in birds fed lower nutrient density diets. The egg characteristics such as shape index, albumen index, yolk index, yolk colour, Haugh unit score and shell thickness including egg weight were statistically similar (P>0.05) among different groups. Further, the egg production, feed consumption, feed efficiency and egg qualities were similar (P>0.05) among the groups fed diets supplemented without or with lipid utilizing agents or NSP degrading enzymes or together. It was concluded that the diet dilution decreases the production performance of layers without affecting egg qualities.