Further evaluation of nonfeed removal methods for molting programs

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.

The objective of this study was to evaluate several nonfeed removal methods compared with feed removal for induced molting of laying hens. An experiment was conducted using 576 Dekalb White hens (69 wk of age) randomly assigned to 1 of 8 dietary treatments. Two of these treatments consisted of feed removal for 10 d followed by ad libitum access to a 16% CP, corn-soybean meal diet or a 94% corn diet for 18 d. The other 6 treatments provided ad libitum access for 28 d to diets containing 94% corn, 94% wheat middlings (WM), 71% WM: 23% corn, 47% WM: 47% corn, 95% corn gluten feed, and 94% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). At 28 d, all hens were fed a laying hen diet (16% CP), and production performance was measured for 40 wk. The 2 feed removal treatments resulted in total cessation of egg production within 6 d. Egg production of hens fed the 94% WM, 71% WM: 23% corn, corn, corn gluten feed, and 47% WM: 47% corn diets all decreased to 6% or less by d 12, 16, 19, 20, and 28, respectively. Egg production of hens fed DDGS never decreased below 18%. Body weight loss ranged from 10% (DDGS) to 26% (10-d feed removal), with the other treatments being similar at 17%. No consistent differences were observed among treatments throughout the 40-wk postmolt period for egg production, egg specific gravity, egg weight, egg yield, or feed efficiency. No differences were observed among feed removal treatments versus several nonfeed removal treatments for ovary and oviduct weights and blood heterophil:lymphocyte ratios during the molt period. In addition, interactive social behaviors were not different throughout the molt period between hens fed the 94% WM and those deprived of feed for 10 d. Our results indicate feeding WM, corn, corn gluten feed, and WM:corn diets are effective nonfeed removal methods for molting laying hens.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				GH. Sadeghi and L. Mohammadi Bitter vetch as a single dietary ingredient for molt induction in laying hens J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2009; 18(1): 66 - 73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. McReynolds, K. J. Genovese, H. He, C. L. Swaggerty, J. A. Byrd, S. C. Ricke, D. J. Nisbet, and M. H. Kogut Alfalfa as a nutritive modulator in maintaining the innate immune response during the molting process J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2009; 18(3): 410 - 417. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M. Donalson, J. L. McReynolds, W. K. Kim, V. I. Chalova, C. L. Woodward, L. F. Kubena, D. J. Nisbet, and S. C. Ricke The Influence of a Fructooligosaccharide Prebiotic Combined with Alfalfa Molt Diets on the Gastrointestinal Tract Fermentation, Salmonella Enteritidis Infection, and Intestinal Shedding in Laying Hens Poult. Sci., July 1, 2008; 87(7): 1253 - 1262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Dunkley, T. H. Friend, J. L. McReynolds, W. K. Kim, K. D. Dunkley, L. F. Kubena, D. J. Nisbet, and S. C Ricke Behavior of Laying Hens on Alfalfa Crumble Molt Diets Poult. Sci., May 1, 2008; 87(5): 815 - 822. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. W. Koelkebeck and K. E. Anderson Molting Layers--Alternative Methods and Their Effectiveness Poult. Sci., June 1, 2007; 86(6): 1260 - 1264. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Koch, D. C. Lay Jr., K. A. McMunn, J. S. Moritz, and M. E. Wilson Motivation of Hens to Obtain Feed During a Molt Induced by Feed Withdrawal, Wheat Middlings, or Melengestrol Acetate Poult. Sci., April 1, 2007; 86(4): 614 - 620. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Novak and P. Ruszler The Effect on Postmolt Performance of Different Crude Protein and Energy Levels During a Full-Fed Molt Procedure J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2007; 16(2): 262 - 274. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. E. Anderson and G. B. Havenstein Effects of Alternative Molting Programs and Population on Layer Performance: Results of the Thirty-Fifth North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Test J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2007; 16(3): 365 - 380. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. E. Onbasilar and H. Erol Effects of Different Forced Molting Methods on Postmolt Production, Corticosterone Level, and Immune Response to Sheep Red Blood Cells in Laying Hens J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2007; 16(4): 529 - 536. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. W. Koelkebeck, C. M. Parsons, P. Biggs, and P. Utterback Nonwithdrawal Molting Programs J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2006; 15(3): 483 - 491. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Ruszler and C. Novak Feeding Hens During Alternating a.m. and p.m. Time Blocks to Induce Zero Egg Production During the Molt J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2006; 15(4): 525 - 530. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]