Effect of Dietary Energy and Protein Level and Enzyme Supplementation on Performance and Egg Quality Traits of Laying Hens
Mehran Torki *
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Imam Avenue, Kermanshah, Iran.
Mohammad Ehsani
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Imam Avenue, Kermanshah, Iran.
Mohammad Zarei
Young Researchers Club, Aligodarz, Islamic Azad University, Aligodarz, Iran.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The present study was conducted to determine effect of dietary energy and protein level and enzyme supplementation on performance and egg quality traits of laying hens.
Study Design: A total of 96 Lohman LSL-Lite laying hens (66 weeks of age) were randomly divided in 16 cages with 6 hens per cage. Hens within every four cages (replicates) allotted to feed each of four experimental diets. Collected data were analyzed based on a completely randomized design using GLM procedure of SAS.
Place and Duration of Study: This 6-weeks study was done in the Department of Animal Science, Agriculture Faculty, Razi University.
Methodology: Based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, four diets consisted of two levels of dietary energy and protein (ME (MJ) and CP%: 11.39, 15 and 10.80, 14.25) and enzyme (0.0 or 0.9 g/kg, Endo-xylanase units/g: 9,000 U/g) were formulated based on the Lohmann catalogue. The first two weeks of experiment was considered as adaptation period and after this the performance data were collected. Egg production and egg weight were daily recorded. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly. Egg quality traits were measured at the last week of experiment.
Results: Reduced dietary energy and protein level increased FCR of hens. Diet supplementation by enzyme improved FCR and egg shell weight.
Conclusion: From the results of the present experiment it can be concluded that dietary enzyme supplementation can improve FCR of laying hens fed diets with reduced level of dietary energy and protein.
Keywords: Energy, enzyme, laying hens, performance, protein