Background: Transitional phase of 2-3 weeks (prelay) before onset of egg production is extremely important for efficient layer. This study evaluates different nutrient density prelay diets on the subsequent performance of White Leghorn layers. Methods: Total 180, 16-week-old White Leghorn pullets assigned to six-prelay feeding strategies (kcal ME per kg/%CP/%Ca) during 16-18 weeks. Treatments were T0 (BIS control-2500/16.0/1.0), T1 (2700/16.0/1.0), T2 (2700/16.0/2.0), T3 (2700/16.0/2.5), T4 (2700/18.0/2.0) and T5 (2700/18.0/2.5). Subsequently, pullets were fed with same layer diet (2600/18.0/3.0) during 19-40 weeks. Various growth and production parameters were recorded. Result: The 18% CP (T4 and T5), 2.0-2.5% Ca (T2 to T5) and 2700 kcal ME/kg (T1 to T5) in prelay diet significantly increased pullets daily metabolic energy (p less than 0.05), protein (p less than 0.05) and calcium (p less than 0.01) intake during 16-18 weeks than 2600 kcal ME/kg (T0), 16.0% CP (T0 to T3) and 1.0% Ca (T0). Prelay diet (T5) improved egg number, per cent egg production, feed efficiency, performance efficiency index and egg feed price ratio without affecting weight gain and feed consumption suggesting that prelay diet is a compromise between grower and layer diets.
Background: Currently prelay nutrition has gained attention in layer industry. Consumer concern attracted researchers to study on different egg qualities. The study was aimed to investigate the impact of different nutrient density prelay diets on egg qualities. Methods: Total 180, 16-week-old White Leghorn pullets assigned to six-prelay feeding strategies (kcal ME per kg/%CP/%Ca) during 16-18 weeks. Treatments were T0 (BIS control-2500/16.0/1.0), T1 (2700/16.0/1.0), T2 (2700/16.0/2.0), T3 (2700/16.0/2.5), T4 (2700/18.0/2.0) and T5 (2700/18.0/2.5). Subsequently, pullets were fed with same layer diet (2600/18.0/3.0) during 19-40 weeks. Various egg quality parameters were recorded during 24-40 weeks of age. Result: Inclusion of 18.0% CP, 2700 kcal ME/kg significantly improved 40th week egg weight (p less than 0.05) and albumen index while reduced yolk weight (p less than 0.01). Prelay diet did not influence shape index and yolk index. The 18.0% prelay CP significantly (p less than 0.01) improved albumen weight and haugh unit. Inclusion of 2.0-2.5% prelay Ca significantly (p less than 0.01) improved shell weight and shell thickness than 1.0%. It is recommended to use 18.0% CP, 2700 kcal ME/kg and 2.5% Ca in prelay diet during 16-18 weeks along with BIS (2007) layer diet during 19-40 weeks age in White Leghorn Layers.
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