Production and income performance of white leghorn layers feed restricted at various stages of production.
Four feeding programs were conducted to evaluate the effects of feed restriction initiated at different stages of production on performance and economic returns of White Leghorn layers. Program 1 consisted of full feeding from 20 weeks of age. Feeding Programs 2, 3, and 4 consisted of feeding 105 g/bird/day starting at 28, 38, and 45 weeks of age, respectively. Information on production performance and egg grade distributions were collected and used to compare egg returns over feed costs for feed costs of 140, 160, and $180/ton and egg prices of 52, 50, 48 and 26 cents for extra-large, large, medium, and small sizes of eggs. Prices for mediums varied from -2 to -8 cents under large. Early feed restriction (Program 2) resulted in reduced egg production, feed usage, body weights, and average egg weights. Restriction from 38 and 45 weeks (Programs 3 and 4) resulted in levels of egg production comparable to the full-fed hens. Significantly (P less than .05) less feed was used, smaller body weights and egg weights were obtained, and more medium grade eggs were produced with Programs 3 and 4. Egg incomes over feed costs were greatest for the restriction programs initiated from 38 and 45 weeks of age.
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000191:economics; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D010058:Oviposition; D013997:Time Factors