EFFECT OF FEED RESTRICTION DURING GROWING PERIOD
ON LAYING PERFORMANCE OF WHITE LEGHORN
HENS
Abdul Waheed Sahota and Bashir Mahmood Bhatti
Poultry Research Institute.
Punjab,
Shamsabad Murree Road,
Rawalpindi,
Pakistan
Abstract
The experiment was conducted to study effect of
feed restriction during growing period on the subsequent performance of
commercial White Leghorn (Babcock) layers. Two hundred and seventy chicks
(6-weeks-old) were randomly divided into three equal groups i.e., A, Sand C. The
birds in group A were given feed ad libitum (full feeding -FF) while those in
groups Sand C maintained on the restricted feeding (RF) were given 10 and 20
percent less feed than the recommended daily feed allowance, respectively from 7
to 9 and 13 to 15 weeks and 20 and 30 percent lesser feed respectively, of the
daily allowance from 10 tol2 weeks of age. From 6 weeks onward til158 weeks of
age all the groups were fed ad libitum. The results showed reduction (p<0.01) in
feed intake and body weight (p<0.05) of pullets and delay in age of sexual
maturity (p<0.01) due to feed restriction. During the laying phase a
non-significant effect of the feed restriction programme on egg production, feed
consumption, feed conversion efficiency (feed/dozen eggs), mortality rate and
cost of feed/dozen eggs was noted. An overall benefit of Rs.13.54 and 21.54 on
RF-I (group-S) and RF-II (group-C), respectively, in comparison to that of FF
during the growing period reflect on better economics of feed restriction
programme in laying stock under given environmental conditions.