Influence of Level and Duration of Quantitative Feed Restriction on Post-Restriction Egg-Laying Characteristics and Egg Quality of Pullets

Abstract

The effects of levels and duration of quantitative feed restriction on post-restrict ion egg-laying characteristics and egg quality as well as economics of egg production of pullets were investigated in a 2x7 factorial for completely randomized design experiment using 126 point-of-lay (POL) Olympia Brown commercial pullets, which had been subjected to various levels and durations of feed restrictions. The experiment lasted from 20 to 37 week of age but the actual period of data collection was from 30 to 37 th th th th th th th 1 by 10% restriction feeding from POL to 34 week - 9 weeks); AFRF (ad libitum feeding from 20 to POL - th th 2 5 weeks followed by 20% restriction feeding from POL to 34 week - 9 weeks); RF RF (10% restriction th 1 1 feeding from 20 to 34 week - 14 weeks); RF AF (10% restriction feeding from 20 week to POL - 5 weeks th th th 1 followed by ad libitum feeding from POL to 34 week - 9 weeks); RF RF (20% restriction feeding from 20 th th 2 2 to 34 week - 14 weeks); and RF AF (20% restriction feeding from 20 week to POL - 5 weeks followed by th th 2 ad libitum feeding from POL to 34 week - 9 weeks). From 34 to 37 week of age, all the groups were th th th