Studies on the Feeding Program for Growing Egg-Type Pullet

Abstract

Collaborative experiments at 6 Perfectural Poultry Experiment Stations with 1, 400 White Leghorn pullets were carried out to study the effect of regulation of body weight and egg production by restricting the daily feed supply. Feed supply was so restricted that 80, 70 or 60% level fo that of control pullets fed ad libitum at each of the Stations. After 20 weeks, all the pullets were fnll-ted the layer diet.1. Average intake of feed of the pullets fed ad libitum was 7.8kg and those of pullets fed 80, 70 and 60% diet were 6.4kg, 5.6kg and 4.5kg, respectively.Body weight gains of the pullets at 20 weeks of age were found to be linear, being lower in obedience to restrictive extent. The difference in body weight among the groups was shown even at 68 weeks of age.2. Sexual maturity of the pullets was delayed and the weight of the 1st egg was heavier in obedience to restrictive extent, although the first egg weight of the restrictive grops was not heavier than that of the control at the identical age.3. The quantity of egg production of each restrictive group for the period from 20 to 68 weeks of age was smaller than that of the control, and the difference of quantity nearly corresponded to that of the egg production during 20 to 32 weeks of age.4. Kilograms of feed per kilogram of eggs of 60% restrictive group for entire period was the lowest among those of the other groups, the difference being significant at 5% lovel between 60% and 80% restrictive groups.5. It was suggested that either the pragram of 70%-restrict feeding or of full feeding is the most economic for growing egg-type pullets,