Providing laying hens in group-housed enriched cages with access to barley silage reduces aggressive and feather-pecking behaviour

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.G. Johannson ◽  
C. Raginski ◽  
K. Schwean-Lardner ◽  
H.L. Classen
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Feather Pecking ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Barley Silage ◽  
Effect Of Feeding ◽  
Bird Weight

Two trials were conducted to study the effect of feeding barley silage on the behaviour and performance of beak-trimmed laying hens. In each trial, 20 hens and 2 roosters were housed in each of eight group-housed enriched cages, with four cages provided a laying hen diet and four cages additionally given free access to barley silage. Egg production and quality, and hen behaviour were assessed throughout the trials (Trial One 20–30 weeks; Trial Two 19–28 weeks). Data were analysed using Proc Mixed of SAS 9.4 and differences were significant when P ≤ 0.05. Silage-fed hens consumed 41 (13.9 g DM) and 50 (13.5 g DM) grams of silage per hen per day in Trials One and Two, respectively, while consuming less layer diet. Birds fed silage spent less time expressing aggressive and feather-pecking behaviours and in nest boxes, and more time feeding than control birds. Egg production, egg quality, and bird weight were not affected by treatment; yolk colour was darker for the silage treatment. Feathering quality was improved in silage-fed birds compared to control birds. It was concluded that providing hens with access to barley silage can improve welfare indicators without negatively affecting the egg production and egg quality.

scholarly journals The effects of space allowance on egg yield, egg quality and plumage condition of laying hens in battery cages

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sarica ◽  
S. Boga ◽  
U.S. Yamak
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Battery Cages ◽  
And Performance

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cage stocking density on egg yield, some egg quality traits and plumage condition in laying hens. Eighteen weeks-old 264 ISA-Brown pullets were divided into four cage density groups. The densities were 2 000, 1 000, 667 and 500 cm<sup>2</sup> per hen (by allocating 1, 2, 3 and 4 hens per cage; floor area 40 × 50 cm) with 48, 30, 24 and 21 replicate cages, totally 123 three-tier battery cages. During the experimental period from 18 to 53 weeks of age, all birds were provided illumination for 16 hours a day. The hens were fed a diet containing 11.7 MJ ME/kg and 180 g CP during the period of 18 to 40 weeks of age and 11.3 MJ ME/kg and 170 g CP during the period of 41 to 54 weeks of age. Feed and water were available for <I>ad libitum</I>. Egg yield, mortality, live weights at 50% egg production age and at the end of experiment, pecking related mortalities, some egg quality traits and plumage condition were recorded weekly. Hen-housed egg production, egg mass, viability, and live weights were significantly decreased by higher densities. Most of the egg quality traits were not affected by cage densities. Pecking related mortalities increased in cage densities of 667 cm<sup>2</sup> and 500 cm<sup>2</sup> per hen compared to the other densities (<I>P</I> < 0.05) while plumage scores were higher in all body parts of hens kept in cages of 2 000 cm<sup>2</sup> and 1 000 cm<sup>2</sup> densities compared to the higher densities. The results showed that brown laying hens should be kept in cages having 1 000–2 000 cm<sup>2</sup> densities in order to improve their welfare and performance.

FEEDING VALUE OF RAPESEED FOR LAYING HENS

1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 563-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. LESLIE ◽  
J. D. SUMMERS
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Feed Consumption ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Feeding Diets ◽  
Haugh Unit

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding diets containing 0, 5, 10, and 15% ground raw rapeseed to three replicates of 14 laying hens each. Isocaloric isonitrogenous diets were fed for a 28-day experimental period and performance and egg quality parameters were measured. Egg production was depressed at the two higher levels of rapeseed inclusion but was not affected at the 5% level of inclusion. Haugh unit, albumen height, and shell deformation were not affected significantly (P > 0.05) but egg weight decreased progressively as rapeseed inclusion increased. Feed consumption was significantly depressed (P < 0.05) at the 15% level of rapeseed and slightly reduced at the other levels.

scholarly journals Bayesian inference of genetic parameters for reproductive and performance traits in White Leghorn hens

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 230-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.O. Rosa ◽  
G.C. Venturini ◽  
T.C.S. Chud ◽  
B.C. Pires ◽  
M.E. Buzanskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Inference ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
A Posteriori ◽  
White Leghorn ◽  
Performance Traits ◽  
And Performance

This study estimated the genetic parameters for reproductive and performance traits and determined which ones can be used as selection criteria for egg production in laying hens using the Bayesian inference. The data of 1894 animals from three generations of White Leghorn laying hens were analyzed for fertility (FERT), hatchability (HATC), and birth rate measurements at 60 weeks of age (BIRTH), body weight at 16 and 60 weeks of age (BW16 and BW60), age at sexual maturity (ASM), egg height/width ratio, weight, and density at 28, 36, and 40 weeks of age (RHW28, RHW36, RHW40, WEGG28, WEGG36, WEGG40, DENS28, DENS36, and DENS40, respectively) traits. The genetic parameters were estimated by the Bayesian inference method of multi-trait animal model. The model included the additive and residual genetic random effects and the fixed effects of generation. The a posteriori mean distributions of the heritability estimates for reproductive traits ranged from 0.14 ± 0.003 (HATC) to 0.22 ± 0.005 (FERT) and performance from 0.07 ± 0.001 (RHW28) to 0.42 ± 0.001 (WEGG40). The a posteriori mean distributions of the genetic correlation between reproductive traits ranged from 0.18 ± 0.026 (FERT and HACT) to 0.79 ± 0.007 (FERT and BIRTH) and those related to performance ranged from –0.49 ± 0.001 (WEGG36 and DENS36) to 0.75 ± 0.003 (DENS28 and DENS36). Reproductive and performance traits showed enough additive genetic variability to respond to selection, except for RHW28. This trait alone would have little impact on the genetic gain because environmental factors would have a higher impact compared to those from the additive genetic factors. Based on the results of this study, the selection applied on the BIRTH trait can be indicated to improve FERT and HATC of eggs. Furthermore, the use of the WEGG40 could improve egg quality in this population.

scholarly journals Fish by-product meal in diets for commercial laying hens

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 273
Author(s):  
André Ferreira Silva ◽  
Frank George Guimarães Cruz ◽  
João Paulo Ferreira Rufino ◽  
Waldo Mateus Plácido Miller ◽  
Nathália Siqueira Flor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Cost ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Polynomial Regression ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Feed Cost ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Completely Randomized Design

 This study aimed to evaluate the increasing levels (0, 1, 2, 3 e 4%) of fish by-product meal in diets for laying hens on performance, egg quality and economic analysis. A total of 160 Dekalb White hens with 52-wk old were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates of eight birds each. The experiment lasted 84 days divided into four periods of 21 days. Estimates of fish by-product meal levels were determined by polynomial regression. Differences (p < 0.05) were detected for all variables of performance, in egg weight, yolk and albumen percentage, yolk and albumen height, feed cost and production cost, in which the inclusion of fish by-product meal in the diets showed better results. It can be concluded that fish by-product meal can be used in diets for hens as alternative feed, with better results in egg production, feed conversion, egg weight, yolk-albumen ratio and a reduction in feed cost and production cost. 

scholarly journals Effects of Dietary Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid on Egg Production and Egg Quality in Laying Hens

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-185
Author(s):  
J.W. Hong ◽  
S.O. Shin ◽  
J.H. Cho ◽  
Y.J. Chen ◽  
J.S. Yoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Aminolevulinic Acid
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