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Performance and Profits of Commercial Leghorns as Influenced by Cage Row Position

Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, AL 36849

Al Roland

Roland Consulting, Auburn, AL 36830

Jack Self

Cal-Maine Foods, Jackson, MS 39207

Correspondence: D. A. Roland, Sr.

Producers commonly feed commercial leghorns based on flock average feed intake to control egg size and nutrient intake. However, results of these experiments indicate that this procedure may not yield maximum profits. Results indicate that hens house in the bottom row of cages have significantly greater egg size and feed consumption than those on the top row. Most of the differences associated with cage row level cannot be explained by variation in temperature. Our results suggest that most commercial leghorns are either overfed or underfed depending on cage row position and that profits could be increased by feed hens based on feed intake as determined by cage row position rather than by average flock intake.

Key Words: Cage row position • hens • performance • profits