EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PROTEIN AND/OR METABOLIZABLE ENERGY LEVELS IN DIETS FORMULATED BASED ON IDEAL PROTEIN CONCEPT ON PERFORMANCE, EGG PRODUCTION, AND EGG QUALITY TRAITS OF LAYERS DURING PHASE 1 OF EGG PRODUCTION

Shaimaa R Anwar,Melegy T M,El Bannaa R A ,Ahmed A Al-Sagan

doi:10.29121/granthaalayah.v9.i10.2021.4301

Abstract

A comparative study was conducted to determine the impacts of crude protein (CP) reductions in laying hen diets. During phase one of egg production, 270 laying hens were randomly assigned into six dietary treatments, which were replicated three times using a 2 × 3 factorial experiment. Reduced CP and metabolizable energy (ME) diets were formulated based on the ideal amino acid profile concept and supplemented with crystalline amino acids. The control treatment received standard commercial diets containing 18.8% CP and 2,725 kcal/kg ME. Average weight gain, hen day egg production percentage, egg weight, egg mass, and other selected egg quality parameters were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed. Feed consumption and the feed conversion ratio were improved in birds fed reduced CP diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids. The dietary CP level significantly influenced shell thickness (ST), while the dietary ME level had no effect. A highly significant interaction was observed between CP percent and the Haugh unit (HU). Results indicate that the “ideal protein concept” may be followed as an economically feasible option for laying hens since it optimizes the dietary amino acid profiles and ME levels, and have a positive effect on hen growth, egg quality and environmental pollution.

Highlights

The poultry industry strives to achieve maximum performance from poultry, while minimizing cost and environmental contamination
The results showed that both crude protein (CP) percentage and metabolizable energy (ME) content did not significantly (p > 0.05) influence AWG
The insignificant effect of the higher level of dietary ME (2,725 kcal/kg) on AWG that we observed was not in agreement with Gunawardana et al (2008), who claimed that higher levels of dietary energy had a significant linear impact on weight gain

Summary

Introduction

The poultry industry strives to achieve maximum performance from poultry, while minimizing cost and environmental contamination. The establishment of a competitive and profitable egg production system is a complicated matter that challenges the laying hen industry. Increasing the dietary protein intake of laying hens is expensive, and it increases environmental nitrogen emission levels. Egg production could be increased by raising the protein content in hen diets, while reducing the diet’s energy content Ding et al (2016), Yu et al (2008), Rose et al (2004). Increasing the crude protein (CP) content of hen diets increases egg production Mousavi et al (2013), Gunawardana et al (2009), Zanaty (2006), egg mass, and the feed conversion ratio Mousavi et al (2013), Nahashon et al (2007), Liu et al (2005)

Methods

Results

Conclusion