Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the utilization of maize silage (MS) in moult induction and its effects on immune response and bone quality in laying hens. Laying hens were subjected to 1 of 6 treatments: full-fed (control; FF); total feed withdrawal (positive control for moult induction; FW); 100 MS (M100); 90 MS + 10 layer ration (LR) (M90); 80 MS + 20 LR (M80); and 70 MS + 30 LR (M70). After 9 days body weight loss occurred in all moulting treatments. The examined treatments caused cessation of egg production on day 4 (M90), 5 (FW, M100) and 7 (M70, M80). On day 6 the heterophil : lymphocyte (H:L) ratio did not differ between all MS treatments and FF; however FW caused its increasing only in comparison to FF, M80 and M70. On day 9 H:L ratio for FF did not differ only from M70 and M90. Antibody production against sheep red blood cell was unaffected by all moulting treatments. The femur dry weight for FF did not differ from M70, M80, M100; however there was observed no difference between FW and M70, M90, M100. The treatments caused decrease of femur ash content in comparison to FF group (except M70) with the lowest value in FW. In conclusion, obtained data indicate that the use of MS mixed with LR results in moult induction. Likewise, it is suggested to use 70 MS addition because of reduced moulting stress in birds and smaller losses of bone mineralization.
Highlights
Moulting in avian species is defined as the periodic shedding and replacement of feathers
There are several types of induced moulting programmes that are used in commercial egg industry
Maize silage contains high level of fibre which is characterised by a slow passage rate in the guts and might have influenced feed intake causing a feeling of satiety and refraining hens from eating (Son et al, 2002; Steenfeldt et al, 2007)
Summary
Moulting in avian species is defined as the periodic shedding and replacement of feathers. For most wild species of birds and domestic hens it is connected with reproductive rejuvenation in which egg production ceases and the reproductive tract regresses (Berry, 2003). The force moulting has been used by the industry to rejuvenate flocks for a second or third egg laying cycle to increase profits. At the end of the laying cycle, egg production and quality decline significantly, leading producers to induce moult for improving performance. Egg production and quality improve significantly when compared to the premoult period. There are several types of induced moulting programmes that are used in commercial egg industry. Typical moulting programmes involve a reduction in the hours of light and removal of feed until hen losses approximate 25% or more of the body weight (Davis et al, 2002)
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