Comparative Study of Feed Form Effects on Productive Performance, Egg Quality and Nutrient Utilization in Laying Hens

Abstract

A 16-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of different feed forms on the productivity, egg quality, nutrient digestibility, and organ development of laying hens. A total of 252 Lohmann Brown laying hens, 20 weeks of age, were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: mash, pellet, or crumble. Each treatment consisted of seven replicates with 12 hens per replicate. All diets were formulated primarily with corn and soybean meal to provide 2801 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy and 17.99% crude protein. Productive performance (egg production, egg weight, feed intake, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio), egg quality traits (haugh unit, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness), apparent nutrient digestibility (dry matter, crude protein, calcium, and phosphorus), and relative organ weights (crop, gizzard, and abdominal fat) were measured. No significant differences (<i>p</i> > 0.05) were observed among the feed form treatments for productive performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility, or organ development. These results indicate that feed form (mash, pellet, or crumble) does not significantly affect performance, egg quality, nutrient utilization, or organ development in Lohmann Brown laying hens under the conditions of this study.