Effects of differences in the initial body weight of groups on laying performance and egg quality parameters of Lohmann laying hens

E. Lacin, A. Yildiz, N. Esenbuga and M. Macit
Additional contact information
E. Lacin: Department of Animal Husbandry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
A. Yildiz: Department of Animal Husbandry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
N. Esenbuga: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
M. Macit: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey

Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2008, vol. 53, issue 11, 466-471

Abstract: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of different body weight groups (light (L) = 1 400-1 500; medium (M) = 1 500-1 600 and heavy (H) = 1 600 < g) on performance and egg quality traits of Lohmann hens, 24 weeks of age, in different laying periods. A total of 288 Lohmann White layers were allocated randomly to three groups with respect to live weight, each consisting of 24 replicated cages as subgroups, comprising four hens. The study period lasting for 60 weeks was investigated as four different age periods (first period = 24-40 weeks; second period = 40-54 weeks; third period = 54-68 weeks; fourth period = 68-84 weeks). Differences in the initial live weight at the beginning of experiment among the groups continued to the end of experimental period. Considering the egg production, differences among the groups were not significant (P > 0.05) during the experimental period. Egg weight was determined to be lower in the group with low body weight (64.58 g) than in medium (64.97 g) and heavy hen groups (66.30 g). Differences in feed intake and feed conversion ratio among the groups were found significant, and the mean values were 123.93, 127.48 and 130.67 for feed consumption (g/day); 2.23, 2.28 and 2.27 for feed conversion ratio. Except for the feed conversion ratio, the effect of weight groups by age period interaction on performance parameters was significant (P < 0.01). The effects of body weight on shell strength, shell thickness and yolk index were not significant during the experimental period. However, different body weight groups significantly affected shape index, yolk colour, albumen index and Haugh unit parameters. Shell strength, yolk colour and yolk index values were affected by weight groups by age period interaction. In conclusion, Lohmann White hens in the light group in a uniform flock had higher egg production and lower feed conversion ratio values than those of other weight groups.

Keywords: body weight; laying hen; laying performance; egg quality traits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/341-CJAS.html (text/html)
http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/341-CJAS.pdf (application/pdf)
free of charge

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:53:y:2008:i:11:id:341-cjas

DOI: 10.17221/341-CJAS

Access Statistics for this article

Czech Journal of Animal Science is currently edited by Bc. Michaela Polcarová

More articles in Czech Journal of Animal Science from Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Ivo Andrle ().