HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Harms, R. H. Articles by Sloan, D. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Harms, R. H. Articles by Sloan, D. R.

Performance of Four Strains of Commercial Layers With Major Changes in Dietary Energy

Department of Dairy and Poultry Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0930; Phone: (352) 392-1932; Fax: (352) 392-3047

Correspondence: R. H. Harms, E-mail:harms{at}animal.ufl.edu

An experiment was conducted to determine how four strains of commercial laying hens would respond to an increase or decrease in dietary energy. Forty of each of Hy-Line Brown, Hy-Line W98, Hy-Line W36, and DeKalb White hens were fed each of three diets from 36 to 44 weeks of age. The energy contents of these diets were 2,519 (low), 2,798 (control) and 3,078 (high) kcal ME/kg. The energy of low and high diets was 10% less and 10% more than the control diets, respectively. Hens fed the low energy diet consumed 8.5% more feed than did hens fed the control diet, and hens fed the high energy diet consumed 1.5% less feed than did hens fed the control diet, which indicated that the hens were more sensitive to lowering the energy than increasing energy in the diet. The Hy-Line W98 and the Hy-Line Brown were more sensitive to the change in energy than the Hy-Line W36 and DeKalb White. Egg production (EP) was not affected by dietary energy level. The high energy diet (containing 5.963% corn oil) significantly increased egg weight (EW). This diet may be beneficial for improving early EW.

Key Words: Laying hen • egg weight • dietary energy • strain difference

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Wu, P. Gunawardana, M. Bryant, R. Voitle, and D. Roland Effect of Molting Method and Dietary Energy on Postmolt Performance of Two Strains of Single Comb White Leghorn Hens J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2008; 17(1): 1 - 10. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Wu, P. Gunawardana, M. M. Bryant, and D. A. Roland Sr. Influence of Dietary Energy and Antibiotic on Performance, Egg Solids, and Egg Quality in Bovans White and Dekalb White Hens J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2008; 17(3): 323 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. N. Nahashon, N. A. Adefope, A. Amenyenu, and D. Wright Effect of Varying Concentrations of Dietary Crude Protein and Metabolizable Energy on Laying Performance of Pearl Grey Guinea Fowl Hens Poult. Sci., August 1, 2007; 86(8): 1793 - 1799. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Wu, P. Gunawardana, M. M. Bryant, R. A. Voitle, and D. A. Roland Sr. Effect of Molting Method and Dietary Energy on Postmolt Performance, Egg Components, Egg Solid, and Egg Quality in Bovans White and Dekalb White Hens During Second Cycle Phases Two and Three Poult. Sci., May 1, 2007; 86(5): 869 - 876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Wu, M. M. Bryant, P. Gunawardana, and D. A. Roland Sr. Effect of Nutrient Density on Performance, Egg Components, Egg Solids, Egg Quality, and Profits in Eight Commercial Leghorn Strains During Phase One Poult. Sci., April 1, 2007; 86(4): 691 - 697. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]