Association of Body Weight and Feed Separation to Pen (Cage) Location for Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets Fed with a Drag Chain-Type Feeder

Abstract

A field study was conducted to determine the relationship of pen (cage) location (PL) along a drag chain-type feeder to BW and feed nutrients (FN) for commercial Single Comb White Leghorn pullets. At 12 and 17 wk of age, feed samples were collected and BW was measured individually for 1 pen (cage) at approximate 30-m intervals from 0 to 213 m. Replication was two lines per house, two houses per farm, and three farms at two ages. Feed was analyzed for CP, fat, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Na, and moisture. Means for BW and FN were regressed on PL using a general linear model.Body weight increased (P≤.05) as PL increased from 0 to 213.36 m along the feed line. For the nutrients CP, K, Mg, Na, and moisture, there was no PL effect. For the nutrients fat, Zn, and Mn, there was a significant PL and week effect with a significant PL by week interaction. For the nutrients P, Ca, and Cu, there was a significant PL and week effect but no significant PL by week interaction. Body weight was correlated negatively with Zn and positively with K and Mn for 12 wk of age only. Feed separation along a drag chain-type feed line did occur. However, the relationship of feed separation to changes in BW was not fully ascertained in the present study.