title: Effects of ambient temperature, feather cover, and housing system on energy partitioning and performance in laying hens.
abstract: Environmental factors, such as ambient temperature (T), feather cover (FC), and housing system (HS), probably affect energy requirements of laying hens. Using a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, interaction effects of T (11, 16, and 21°C), FC (100 and 50%), and HS (cage and floor housing) on energy partitioning and performance of laying hens were investigated. Six batches of 70 H&N Brown Nick laying hens, divided over 2 respiration chambers, were exposed to the T levels in three 2-wk periods. Heat production (HP) was determined by indirect calorimetry. The ME intake was calculated by subtracting energy in manure/litter from that in feed and wood shavings. The NE was calculated by subtracting HP from ME. The ME intake increased by 1% for each degree reduction in T. In hens with intact plumage, HP was not affected by T, whereas at decreasing T, HP increased in hens with 50% FC (P < 0.01). At 21°C, HP was not affected by HS, whereas in the floor system, HP at 16 and 11°C was 5.8 and 3.0% higher, respectively, than in cages (P < 0.05). The NE for production was 25.7% higher in cages compared to the floor system (P < 0.05). In cages, 24.7% of NE for production was spent on body fat deposition, whereas in the floor system, 9.0% of NE for production was released from body fat reserves. The ME intake was predicted by the equation (R(2) = 0.74) ME intake (kJ/d) = 612 BW(0.75) - (8.54 × T) + (28.36 × ADG) + (10.43 × egg mass) - (0.972 × FC). Hen performances were not affected by treatments, indicating the adaptive capacity of young laying hens to a broad range of environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Wageningen UR Livestock Research, PO Box 65, NL-8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands marinus.vankrimpen@wur.nl.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Krimpen
authors.affiliation: Wageningen UR Livestock Research, PO Box 65, NL-8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Binnendijk
authors.affiliation: Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, NL-6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van den Anker
authors.affiliation: Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, NL-6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M J W
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Heetkamp
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, NL-6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kwakkel
authors.affiliation: Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, NL-6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van den Brand
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005241:Feathers / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008372:Manure; D010058:Oviposition; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012119:Respiration; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D008372:Manure
keywords: ambient temperature; energy partitioning; housing system; laying hens; performance