HENS PRODUCTIVITY OF KEEPING AT CERTAIN TIERS OF CAGE BATTERIES

Abstract

Differences in egg-laying, preservation and other economically useful characteristics were determined between 4 groups of hens of the industrial flock of egg cross "Hy-Line W-36" (USA), which were kept on different tiers of the cage battery. The experiment was conducted in the conditions of a modern complex for the production of edible eggs (Kyiv region) for keeping hens in cages of the 12-tier battery "Big Dutchman" (Germany). In particular, hens of 1st group were kept in cages of 1-3 tiers of the battery, 2nd groups – in cages of 4-6 tiers, 3rd groups – 7-9 tiers, 4th groups –10-12 tiers. The initial population of hens on each tier of the battery was 39,592 heads, and in the experimental groups – 118,776 birds. The experiment lasted 44 weeks of the productive period, namely from the beginning of laying at the age of 18 weeks until the laying hens reached the age of 62 weeks. The 235.4 eggs were obtained for the initial layer of 1st group, 2nd groups – 251.5 eggs, 3rd groups – 256.3 eggs, 4th groups – 257.1 eggs. Hens of 4th group, which were kept in cages of the 3 upper tiers of the battery, significantly (P<0.001) surpassed their counterparts from 1st group (3 lower tiers) also in terms of preservation (93.9 and 83.1%, respectively), weight eggs (65.8 and 63.7 g), the amount of egg mass obtained per initial laying hen (16.6 and 14.8 kg), according to the level of the coefficient of efficiency of egg production (22.5 and 19.9 u.o.). The hens of 2 and 3 groups also surpassed the hens of 1 group according to the parameters of the indicated indicators, but were inferior to the 4th. So, when kept on 1-3 tiers of the cage battery, laying hens felt less comfortable than their counterparts on 4-12 tiers. It is assumed that this is related to the timid reaction of laying hens of whiteegg crosses to the movement of service personnel between rows of cage batteries during the workingday when performing certain technological operations. Hens of 1-3 tiers of these workers can see, 4th tier – only the top of the head of some (over 170 cm tall), and for laying hens of 5-12 tiers, all personnel movements remain out of sight.