Feed consumption and its efficient utilization

摘要

Feed cost and efficiency of laying hens in converting food energy into eggs constitute the most important factors controlling the economics of commercial egg production. ADVANCES IN POULTRY breeding have provided egg producers with unprecedented increases in egg yield and quality alongside the more cost-effective use of poultry feed. Egg producers around the world have achieved an average improvement of 3.6 more eggs per hen housed with 26g less feed needed to produce 1kg of eggs per generation overthe last 25 years. So far so good, but can layer breeders maintain the current rate of improvement over the coming years. That is the question asked by Dr Jesus Arango, Statistical Geneticist at Hy-Line International, which claims top spot in the industry through pushing the frontiers of genetics to produce the world's best laying stock.