Some responses of laying hens to induced arrest of egg production.
Arrest of egg production was induced by forced-molt (artificial light deprivation and feed deprivation for 10 days followed by 20 days of grain only) and by low-calcium regime in one experiment, and by Nicarbazin in another. Post-arrest production and shell quality significantly surpassed the control in the force-molt but not in the low-Ca treatment. At the onset of production, following the pause, egg weight and shell weight per unit of surface area rapidly increased up to the 9-10th egg. In the second trial, feed intake declined in about one week after the arrest in egg production to a non-layer level. During this week, body weight increased. However, despite the increase in feed intake after the onset of production, pre-arrest levels were not obtained even after 11 days, resulting in a loss of body weight. The separation of flock production into its components, rate of production of the layers, and the proportion of layers in the flock, is proposed.
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002523:Edible Grain; D004528:Egg Shell; D004531:Eggs; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D008027:Light; D009528:Nicarbazin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010058:Oviposition; D010710:Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D010710:Phosphates; D009528:Nicarbazin