The Utilization of Brewers' Dried Grains in the Diets of Chinese Ringneck Pheasant-Breeder Hens ,

Abstract

Two trials were conducted, each one using 240 Chinese Ringneck pheasant-breeder hens (Phasianus colchicus torquatus) to determine the effects of feeding various levels of brewers' dried grains (BDG) on egg production, fertility, hatchability, and feed consumption. The birds were subjected to natural daylight. Data were collected for 16 wk of egg production (April 1 through July 31). Each of four diets containing 0, 15, 30, or 45% BDG was fed to three pens (19 females and 1 male per pen), beginning 1 wk prior to the onset of lay. The eggs were collected twice daily and were stored at 13 C and were set in incubators every 14 days. The eggs were candled on Day 21 of incubation to determine the number of infertile eggs and dead embryos. The hatch was removed on Day 25. The egg production and fertility from BDG-fed hens did not differ from those of the control hens. The hatchability of fertile eggs was higher (P<.05) from hens fed diets containing 30 and 45% BDG than from hens fed the control diet. The inclusion of BDG in the diets of pheasant-breeder hens had a favorable influence on the hatchability of eggs.