Open AccessEFFECT OF DIFFERENT PROTEIN AND/OR METABOLIZABLE ENERGY LEVELS IN DIETS FORMULATED BASED ON IDEAL PROTEIN CONCEPT ON PERFORMANCE, EGG PRODUCTION, AND EGG QUALITY TRAITS OF LAYERS DURING PHASE 1 OF EGG PRODUCTION
Author(s) -
Shaimaa R. Anwar,
Ahmed A. Al-Sagan,
El Bannaa R. A,
Melegy T. M
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of research - granthaalayah
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2394-3629
pISSN - 2350-0530
DOI - 10.29121/granthaalayah.v9.i10.2021.4301
Subject(s) - haugh unit , factorial experiment , zoology , feed conversion ratio , amino acid , biology , dietary protein , food science , body weight , protein quality , eggshell , chemistry , mathematics , biochemistry , ecology , endocrinology , statistics
A comparative study was conducted to determine the impacts of crude protein (CP) reductions in laying hen diets. During phase one of egg production, 270 laying hens were randomly assigned into six dietary treatments, which were replicated three times using a 2 × 3 factorial experiment. Reduced CP and metabolizable energy (ME) diets were formulated based on the ideal amino acid profile concept and supplemented with crystalline amino acids. The control treatment received standard commercial diets containing 18.8% CP and 2,725 kcal/kg ME. Average weight gain, hen day egg production percentage, egg weight, egg mass, and other selected egg quality parameters were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed. Feed consumption and the feed conversion ratio were improved in birds fed reduced CP diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids. The dietary CP level significantly influenced shell thickness (ST), while the dietary ME level had no effect. A highly significant interaction was observed between CP percent and the Haugh unit (HU). Results indicate that the “ideal protein concept” may be followed as an economically feasible option for laying hens since it optimizes the dietary amino acid profiles and ME levels, and have a positive effect on hen growth, egg quality and environmental pollution.