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Effects of Different Forced Molting Methods on Postmolt Production, Corticosterone Level, and Immune Response to Sheep Red Blood Cells in Laying Hens

E. E. Onbalar^*,1 and H. Erol

^* Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Science, 06110, Ankara, Turkey; and Abant zzet Baysal University, Mudurnu Süreyya Astarci Vocational School of Higher Education, 14800, Bolu, Turkey

Correspondence: ¹ Corresponding author: obasilar{at}veterinary.ankara.edu.tr

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different molting methods on postmolt production, plasma corticosterone levels, and antibody production to SRBC for the welfare of laying hens. This experiment was conducted with 120 IGH-type Brown laying hens (70 wk of age), randomly divided into 3 experimental groups. The hens in one group were fed a whole-grain barley diet during the first 10 d (WB diet). On d 11, hens consumed 100 g of layer diet/d until d 28. In the second group, hens were fed a Zn diet containing 10,000 mg/kg of Zn as ZnO for 10 d (Zn diet). Hens were then provided 100 g of a layer diet from d 11 to 28. In the third group, feed was withdrawn for 10 d, and on d 11 hens were fed a cracked corn diet ad libitum until d 28 (California method; CAL diet). Hens in all groups were returned to the layer diet ad libitum on d 29. Egg weight was lower in the Zn treatment than in the other treatments. Feed intake and plasma corticosterone levels were higher and antibody production was lower in the CAL treatment than in the WB and Zn groups. The FCR was better in the WB than in the Zn group. Mortality, egg production, and egg quality were not significantly different among the molting methods. As a result, the WB molting program was the best method for postmolt production among the programs examined.

Key Words: molting • laying hen • postmolt production • corticosterone level • immune response