Performance of lightweight replacement pullets fed rations with sunflower cake and the addition of enzymes

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the inclusion of sunflower cake (SC) and the addition of enzymes in the ration of lightweight replacement pullets in the growth phase, as well as their effects on the variables feed consumption and conversion, productive performance, sexual maturity, egg quality at the beginning of the laying phase, and economic viability. Five hundred and forty pullets of the Hy-Line W-36 light line were used. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2×2+1 factorial arrangement, with two inclusion levels of SC (10 and 20%), with or without the addition of enzymes, and a control treatment. At the end of the growth phase (7 to 17 weeks age), 360 birds were transferred to the laying shed until their thirty-fifth week of age. There was no interaction between SC levels and enzymes, but an isolated effect of rations and enzymes was observed on feed consumption and conversion. There was a decrease in specific egg density and an interaction between the factors for this variable, but without affecting productive performance. The inclusion of up to 20% SC in the rations does not affect bird performance in both evaluated phases; however the use of 20% SC with enzymes is more economically viable.

Feeding sunflower meal with pullets and laying hens even at a 30% inclusion rate does not impair the ileal digestibility of most amino acids

“…Using laying hens or pullets in these trials is rare because of the high price of the birds. Of course, the digestion potential of adult roosters, broiler chickens, laying hens, and restricted-fed pullets is different (60)(61)(62)(63).…”

Sunflower cake in the diets of lightweight laying pullets: Effects on the growth phase and the beginning of production cycle

“…The growth phase is considered a critical phase within the production system (Freitas et al, 2014), where fibrous feed is provided to control the broilers' excessive weight gain (Braz et al, 2011). Some authors proposed the inclusion of SC in laying pullets (Kargopoulos et al, 2017;Alencar et al, 2019;Souza et al, 2020;Alencar et al, 2021) and demonstrated the possibility of additional studies with SC in white layers' diets. Considering the differences in strains, greater practical application, and a better understanding of the obtained results, adjustments were made to achieve optimal levels without compromising the health and performance of pullets.…”