Protein Requirements of Layers Per Day and Phase Feeding

Abstract

IN order to make a phase feeding system practical, it is necessary to know the laying hen’s daily requirement of protein during the various parts of her production cycle. Heywang et al. (1955) noted that the optimum level of protein for layers was 15.0%. Miller et al. (1957), on the other hand, obtained good egg production on Leghorn pullets kept in laying batteries when the experimental diets contained 12.5 to 13% dietary protein, regardless of the levels of energy used which were 640, 745, and 930 Calories of productive energy per pound. Egg weights did not vary too much in each of the experimental diets. However, none of these diets were very high in energy content. Hochreich et al. (1957) found no differences in egg size when the percent protein in the ration was either 15.7, 17.0, or 18.3. Smith (1967) found no differences in egg production at protein levels…