Efficacy of pre-lay diet

Abstract

A biological study was carried out to review the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recommendations for layer pullet feed. Commercial layer chicks were fed till 14 weeks of age as per BIS. At 15 weeks, pullets were randomly assigned to each of the five pre-lay feeding strategies, namely T1 (BIS control), T2 (16/2700), T3 (18/2700) (%CP/kcal ME/kg), T4 (same as T2 + lysine and methionine by 10% higher than BIS) and T5 (same as T4 with 2% oil). At 5% egg production, all groups were fed as per BIS. Pullets fed on high energy and protein pre-lay diets of 2700 kcal and 18% protein-advanced sexual maturity with good body composition. Pre-layers fed 2700/18 feed had the best hen day (85.44±1.52), hen-housed egg production (84.21±1.52), layed heavier eggs, had a higher egg mass output (47.14±0.95g), gave the best feed efficiency, had the lowest pullet production cost and high egg feed price ratio. It was concluded that pre-lay pullets have to be provided with 2700/18 kcal of metabolisable energy and protein level as against the BIS recommendation of 2500/16 dietary energy and protein level.