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Early Postmolt Performance of Laying Hens Fed a Low-Protein Corn Molt Diet Supplemented with Spent Hen Meal
Early Postmolt Performance of Laying Hens Fed a Low-Protein Corn Molt Diet Supplemented with Spent Hen Meal K. W. Koelkebeck,1 C. M. Parsons, M. W. Douglas, R. W. Leeper, S. Jin, X. Wang, Y. Zhang, and S. Fernandez Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801 d in both experiments, at which time all hens were fed a 16% CP layer diet. Performance was measured for 8 wk following the beginning of feeding the layer diet. Feeding the low-protein corn molt diet supplemented with 5 to 10% SHM improved early postmolt egg production performance and body weight gain compared with hens fed the corn basal diet alone. The 7.5 and 10% SHM diets yielded early postmolt performance that was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from that of hens fed the high-protein (16% CP) diet. Supplementing the 5% SHM diet with amino acids generally did not significantly improve performance. The present study thus indicates that improved early postmolt performance may be achieved by supplementation of a low-protein corn molt diet with 5 to 10% SHM.
(Key words: laying hen, postmolt performance, molting, spent hen meal, amino acid) 2001 Poultry Science 80:353–357
feedstuffs (Haque et al., 1991; Lyons and Vandepopuliere, 1996). Lyons and Vandepopuliere (1996) reported that extrusion-processed spent Leghorn hens resulted in a high-protein/high-energy ingredient that could be fed to broilers. More recently, Douglas et al. (1997), Kersey et al. (1997), and Kersey and Waldroup (1998) reported on the nutrient composition of rendered spent hen meal (SHM) and utilization of SHM in broiler diets. In the latter study, Kersey and Waldroup (1998) showed that inclusion of SHM in a broiler diet up to a level of 10% produced acceptable growth performance. There has been no published research on the effects of using SHM in molting diets for laying hens. Because rendered SHM has been shown to have high CP levels, it was of interest to evaluate the effects of supplementing a molt ration with low-protein corn with SHM. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of supplementing a low-protein molt ration with several levels of SHM alone and in combination with amino acids on early postmolt layer performance.
INTRODUCTION There are numerous molting programs used in research and in the commercial layer industry. If the program is conducted properly, the productive life of a laying hen flock can be substantially increased. Many research studies on molting programs have focused on the physical manipulation of the program itself as well as the nutritional recovery of the diet used. Previous research has examined the effects of protein level in the molt diet (Brake et al., 1979; Harms, 1983; Koelkebeck et al., 1991, 1993, 1999). In particular, these studies have shown that hens return to egg production faster when fed a high- vs. low-protein corn molt diet. In addition, Koelkebeck et al. (1993; 1999) have shown that early postmolt laying hen performance may be enhanced by supplementation of a low-protein molt diet with high-protein ingredients such as corn gluten meal and feather meal or with amino acids (Met and Lys). During the past decade, there has been increasing interest in the utilization of spent hens by processing them into
Received for publication June 16, 2000. Accepted for publication November 20, 2000. 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected].
Abbreviation Key: SHM = spent hen meal.
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ABSTRACT We used a total of 504 commercial Single Comb White Leghorn hens (69 and 65 wk of age) in each of two experiments, and hens were induced to molt by feed withdrawal only. Feed withdrawal lasted for 12 and 11 d, and hens lost 26 and 25% body weight in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. All hens were then weighed, and seven replicate groups of 12 hens each were assigned to molt diet treatments. In Experiment 1, diets consisted of a corn basal diet (7.9% CP) or corn basal diet supplemented with 7.5 or 10% spent hen meal (SHM) each from two different sources. In Experiment 2, the corn basal diet or this diet supplemented with 5 or 10% SHM alone or 5% SHM plus Met, Lys, and Trp was evaluated. A molt diet of 16% CP corn-soybean meal was used as a positive control in both experiments. Molt diets were fed for 15
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MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Mortality averaged 1.2 and 2.0% from the beginning of the feed withdrawal period to the end of 8 wk on the layer diet in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Mortality did not differ significantly among treatments in either experiment. In Experiment 1, early egg production (Weeks 1 to 2) was greater (P < 0.05) for hens fed all SHM-supplemented diets and 16% CP diet compared to those fed the corn basal diet (Table 2). In addition, early egg production of hens fed the SHM-supplemented diets was comparable to that of hens fed the 16% CP corn-soybean meal diet. Hens fed the basal supplemented with SHM produced more eggs than hens fed the corn basal diet (Weeks 1 to 8). Body weight gain during each of the first 3 wk following the end of the feed withdrawal period was greater (P < 0.05) for hens fed the SHM-supplemented diets and the 16% CP diet compared to those fed the corn diet (Table 2). In addition, body weight gain was not different (P > 0.05) for hens fed the corn basal supplemented with 7.5 and 10% SHM A and 7.5% SHM B compared to those fed the 16% CP diet during the first week following feed withdrawal. This response continued into the second week following feed withdrawal for hens fed the basal supplemented with 10% SHM A compared to the positive control group (16% CP diet); by the third week, there were no significant differences in body weight among the SHM diets and the 16% CP diet. Similar results occurred for egg weight and egg yield as for egg production in Experiment 1 (Table 2). Early egg weight (Weeks 1 to 2 on the layer diet) was greater
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Two experiments were conducted, each utilizing a total of 504 commercial Single Comb White Leghorn hens housed in a fan-ventilated cage-type facility. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum prior to initiation of each experiment, and a 17-h photoperiod was maintained throughout the experiments. The hens were induced to molt by feed withdrawal only (free access to water) for 12 and 11 d in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Feed withdrawal was initiated when the hens were 69 or 65 wk of age, and body weight loss at the end of the feed withdrawal period was 26 or 25% in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. This method used to induce a molt (length of feed withdrawal and percentage body weight loss) was approved by our Laboratory Animal Care Committee. At the end of the feed withdrawal period, all hens were weighed, and seven replicate groups of 12 hens each (four adjacent raised wire cages, 30 × 46 cm, containing three hens each) were assigned to each dietary molt treatment so that average body weights were similar among treatments. In both experiments, molt diets (Table 1) were fed at a rate of 83 g per hen per day for the first 2 d following the feed withdrawal period and then were given feed ad libitum thereafter. Molt diets were fed for 15 d in both experiments until average egg production reached 10% when averaged over all treatments. At this time, all hens in both experiments were fed a 16% CP corn-soybean layer diet ad libitum (Table 1). Postmolt performance was monitored for 8 wk following the initiation of feeding the layer diet. The molt diet treatments in both experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of supplementing a lowprotein corn molt diet with several different levels and types of rendered SHM alone or in combination with Met, Lys, and Trp. The three SHM evaluated were SHM A or B or a blend of SHM A, B, and C (33.3% each) from the study of Douglas et al. (1997); complete nutritional descriptions are provided in that paper. In summary, the SHM A, B, and C contained, respectively, on an as-fed basis: TMEn (kcal/kg), 2,845, 2,350, 3,531; protein (%), 64.8, 55.9, 63.9; Lys (%), 4.19, 3.56, 4.28; Met (%), 1.28, 1.20, 1.38; Cys (%), 1.07, 0.84, 1.49. In Experiment 1, 7.5 and 10% SHM provided a general total dietary CP level of 12 to 13%, because a previous study (Koelkebeck et al., 1991) showed that these levels of CP yielded postmolt performance that was similar to a 16 or 17% CP cornsoybean meal diet. The levels of amino acid supplementation used in Experiment 2 were based on amino acid levels and responses in a previous study (Koelkebeck et al., 1993). The SHM A and B (Experiment 1) and blended SHM and amino acids (Experiment 2) were added to the basal diet in place of corn with Lys provided as LLysⴢHCl, Met as DL-Met, and Trp as L-Trp (Experiment 2). The levels of limestone and dicalcium phosphate were reduced as SHM was added to maintain a level of 2.0% Ca and 0.45% available P in all diets. The compositions of the individual experimental diets for Experiments 1 and 2 are shown in Table 1. The dietary
molt treatments in Experiment 1 consisted of a basal corn diet (7.9% CP), the basal supplemented with 7.5 or 10% SHM A or B, and a 16% CP corn-soybean meal diet (positive control). In Experiment 2, the dietary molt treatments consisted of the corn basal diet (7.9% CP); the basal diet supplemented with 5 or 10% blended SHM alone; 5% blended SHM plus Met and Lys; 5% blended SHM plus Met, Lys, and Trp; or a 16% CP corn-soybean meal diet. A detailed description of the nutritional composition and processing conditions for the SHM can be found in Douglas et al. (1997). In both experiments, body weights of all hens were measured each week for 3 wk following the start of feeding the molt diets. Egg production and mortality were recorded daily from the beginning of feeding the layer diet. Egg weight was measured each week on all eggs produced on 2 consecutive d. Egg yield (g of egg/hen per d) was calculated using hen-day egg production and egg weight. Feed consumption was measured weekly, and feed efficiency was calculated using egg yield and feed consumption. All data were analyzed by one-factor ANOVA appropriate for a completely randomized design (Steel and Torrie, 1980). Significant differences among treatment means were determined with the Fisher’s LSD test (Steel and Torrie, 1980).
TABLE 1. Composition and calculated analysis of the experimental molt diets and layer diet
Ingredients and analysis
Basal diet1
Experiment 1 Diet 2
Diet 3
Diet 4
Experiment 2 Diet 5
Diet 6
Diet 2
Diet 3
Diet 4
Diet 5
Diet 6
16% CP layer diet2
(%) 93.26 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.04 0.00 2.05 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
87.42 0.00 7.50 0.00 0.00 3.38 0.00 1.05 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
85.46 0.00 10.00 0.00 0.00 3.16 0.00 0.73 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
87.08 0.00 0.00 7.50 0.00 3.57 0.00 1.20 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
85.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 0.00 3.44 0.00 0.91 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
73.55 20.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.00 0.00 1.90 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.10
89.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 3.66 0.00 1.49 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
88.95 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 3.66 0.00 1.49 0.30 0.10 0.15 0.00 0.15 0.20
88.90 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 3.66 0.00 1.49 0.30 0.10 0.15 0.05 0.15 0.20
85.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 3.32 0.00 0.90 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
73.55 20.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.00 0.00 1.90 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.10
68.90 18.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 8.50 2.50 1.25 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.10
7.9 3,239 2.00 0.45 0.34 0.24
12.3 3,251 2.00 0.45 0.49 0.54
13.7 3,255 2.00 0.45 0.54 0.64
11.6 3,209 2.00 0.45 0.47 0.49
12.8 3,200 2.00 0.45 0.51 0.58
16.0 2,953 2.00 0.45 0.55 0.82
10.8 3,245 2.00 0.45 0.44 0.43
11.0 3,237 2.00 0.45 0.54 0.55
11.0 3,235 2.00 0.45 0.54 0.55
13.6 3,254 2.00 0.45 0.55 0.62
16.0 2,953 2.00 0.45 0.55 0.82
16.0 2,865 3.80 0.45 0.54 0.82
SPENT HEN MEAL IN MOLT DIETS
Ground yellow corn Soybean meal (dehulled) Spent hen meal A Spent hen meal B Spent hen meal (blended)3 Limestone Meat and bone meal Dicalcium phosphate Iodized salt DL-methionine L-lysineⴢHCl Tryptophan Trace mineral mix4 Vitamin premix5 Calculated analysis CP TMEn, kcal/kg Calcium Available phosphorus Methionine + cystine Lysine 1
The corn basal diet was fed as Diet 1 in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. The 16% CP corn-soybean meal layer diet was fed to all hens for 8 wk after average egg production reached 10%. 3 The spent hen meal fed in Diets 2, 3, 4, and 5 in Experiment 2 was a blend of spent hen Meals A and B fed in Experiment 1 and another commercially available spent hen meal (33.3% each). 4 Provided per kilogram of diet: vitamin A (as retinyl acetate), 4,400 IU; cholecalciferol (as activated animal sterol), 1,000 IU; vitamin E (as DL-α-tocopheryl acetate), 11 IU; vitamin B12, 0.01 mg; riboflavin, 4.41 mg; d-pantothenic acid, 10 mg; niacin; 22 mg; menadione sodium bisulfite, 2.33 mg. 5 Provided as milligrams per kilogram of diet: manganese, 75 from manganous oxide; iron, 75 from iron sulfate; zinc, 75 from zinc oxide; copper, 5 from copper sulfate; iodine, 0.35 from ethylene diamine dihydroiodide; selenium, 0.2 from sodium selenite. 2
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KOELKEBECK ET AL. TABLE 2. Effect of dietary molt treatments on hen-day egg production, body weight gain, egg weight, egg yield, and feed efficiency, Experiment 11 Hen-day egg production
Dietary molt treatments
1 wk
2 wk
1) B2 2) B + 7.5% spent hen Meal A 3) B + 10% spent hen Meal A 4) B + 7.5% spent hen Meal B 5) B + 10% spent hen Meal B 6) Corn-soybean meal (16% CP) Pooled SEM
11.5c 28.5ab 31.4a 23.9b 28.6ab 31.5a 2.5
39.5b 57.1a 58.2a 57.7a 58.3a 59.8a 3.6
Body weight gain
1 to 8 wk
13 to 19 d
59.3b 64.2ab 65.1a 65.0ab 65.0ab 66.8a 2.0
193c 281ab 296a 269ab 231bc 300a 22
(%)
13 to 26 d
Egg weight
13 to 33 d
1 wk
334b 418a 399a 413a 423a 446a 18
58.6c 61.2ab 60.9b 59.7bc 61.3ab 62.8a 0.6
(g/hen) 242d 408bc 434ab 386c 410bc 445a 12
2 wk
1 to 8 wk
1 wk
59.7b 61.8a 60.8ab 60.5ab 61.0ab 61.7a 0.5
6.7c 17.5ab 19.1a 14.3b 17.5ab 19.7a 1.6
(g/egg) 57.2c 62.1ab 61.0ab 60.7b 61.2ab 62.6a 0.6
Feed efficiency
Egg yield 2 wk
1 to 8 wk
(g egg/hen per d) 22.6b 35.5a 35.4a 34.9a 35.7a 37.5a 2.2
35.6b 39.8a 39.6a 39.3a 39.7a 41.1a 1.2
1 to 8 wk (g egg:g feed) 0.335b 0.365a 0.364a 0.359a 0.366a 0.373a 0.008
Means within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < 0.05). Data are means of seven groups of 12 hens each. Data for hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg yield, and feed efficiency are for the first 8 wk on the layer diet. Data for body weight gain are for three consecutive wk following the feed withdrawal period. 2 B = corn basal diet. a–d 1
by the third week, body weight gain was greater (P < 0.05) only for hens fed the basal supplemented with 10% SHM and the 16% CP diet compared to hens fed the basal diet alone. There were few significant differences detected for egg weight among dietary treatments. Egg yield was increased by supplementation of the corn diet with SHM and hens fed diets containing 5% SHM plus Met, Lys, and Trp; 10% SHM produced egg yields that were not significantly different from hens fed the 16% CP diets during the first week and for Weeks 1 to 8. Feed efficiency (Weeks 1 to 8) was the highest for hens fed the corn basal supplemented with 5% SHM plus amino acids, basal supplemented with 10% SHM, and the 16% CP diet. The results obtained herein agree with the earlier reports that hens fed a high-protein molt diet following feed withdrawal will return to egg production faster, regain body weight quicker, produce larger eggs, and have greater egg yield than hens fed a low-protein corn diet (Brake et al., 1979; Harms, 1983; Koelkebeck et al., 1991, 1993, 1999). The results further indicate that supplementing a low-protein corn molt diet with several levels of SHM can improve and produce early postmolt performance that is nearly equivalent to feeding a high-protein molt diet. The positive response to SHM is most likely due primarily to protein or amino acids as we have observed similar positive responses with other high-protein ingredients such as corn gluten meal and feather meal and also amino acids (Koelkebeck et al., 1993, 1999). The type of SHM seems to make little overall difference in postmolt performance, and a 7.5% inclusion rate seems to be adequate for early postmolt performance. However, our results suggest that supplementing a low-protein molt diet with only 5% of a blended SHM may not provide enough protein or amino acids to adequately provide for maximum early postmolt performance unless additional amino acids are added as well. The results of our study indicate that SHM is a good ingredient for molt rations. It will increase early egg production compared to feeding a low-protein corn molt diet and also provides another means of utilizing spent hens.
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for hens fed all SHM-supplemented diets and the 16% CP diet compared to the corn basal diet; however, egg weight for Weeks 1 to 8 was greater (P < 0.05) only for hens fed the basal supplemented with 7.5% SHM A and the 16% CP diet compared to those fed the corn basal diet alone. As a result of greater egg production and egg weight, egg yield was consistently greater (P < 0.05) for hens fed the SHM-supplemented diets and 16% CP diet compared to those fed the basal diet (Weeks 1, 2, and 1 to 8). The results for feed efficiency for Weeks 1 to 8 were similar to that depicted for overall egg yield (Table 2). The egg weights, egg yields, and feed efficiencies of hens fed SHM supplemented molt diets were generally not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of hens fed the 16% CP molt diet. In Experiment 2, supplementation of the corn basal diet with 5 or 10% SHM increased (P < 0.05) early egg production (Table 3). Early egg production (Week 1), however, was greater (P < 0.05) for hens fed the 16% CP diet compared to hens fed the basal supplemented with 5% SHM alone or 5% SHM plus Met and Lys. Egg production was not significantly different (P > 0.05) for hens fed the basal supplemented with 5% SHM plus Met, Lys, and Trp, and 10% SHM compared to hens fed the 16% CP diet during Week 1. Egg production was greatest (P < 0.05) for hens fed the 16% CP diet, intermediate for all SHM- and amino acid-supplemented diets, and least for those fed the corn basal diet alone during Week 2. Similar egg production results occurred for Weeks 1 to 8, as was observed for the first week. As observed for egg production, body weight gain following the feed withdrawal period was increased by supplementing the corn diet with 5 or 10% SHM (Table 3). Body weight gain following the feed withdrawal period was greater (P < 0.05) during the first week for hens fed the basal supplemented with 10% SHM and the 16% CP diet compared to hens fed the basal alone or basal supplemented with 5% SHM (Table 3); the SHM plus amino acid diets were intermediate. This response continued to the second week following feed withdrawal; however,
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Means within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < 0.05). Data are means of seven groups of 12 hens each. Data for hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg yield, and feed efficiency are for the first 8 wk on the layer diet. Data for body weight gain are for three consecutive wk following the feed withdrawal period. 2 The spent hen meal used in Experiment 2 was a blend of spent hen Meal A, B, and a commercial spent hen meal (33.3% each). 3 B = corn basal diet. 1
a–d
0.374ab 0.396a 0.012 46.8b 62.8a 3.8 28.4ab 34.7a 3.0
61.5ab 68.1a 2.5
290a 287a 10
445ab 459a 17
444ab 481a 25
62.3a 62.6a 1.2
62.6ab 64.2a 0.9
30.1b 39.3a 2.4 18.0ab 21.6a 2.0 64.0a 63.3a 0.7
39.4ab 43.1a 1.6
0.383ab 38.4ab 48.6b 29.9ab
61.1ab
267ab
409bc
420abc
61.3a
62.6ab
30.5b 18.4ab 62.7a
0.313c 0.354b 0.368ab
(g egg/hen per d) 5.0c 14.9c 30.7c 13.8b 25.2b 35.8b 15.9ab 26.7b 37.0b 355c 405bc 412abc 49.0c 57.1b 59.1b
(%) 24.4c 40.6b 43.0b
1) B3 2) B + 5% spent hen Meal 3) B + 5% spent hen Meal + 0.1% DL-Met + 0.15% L-lysⴢHCl 4) B + 5% spent hen Meal + 0.1% DL-Met + 0.15% L-lysⴢHCl + 0.05% Trp 5) B + 10% spent hen Meal 6) Corn-soybean meal (16% CP) Pooled SEM
8.2c 22.1b 25.7b
195c 252b 263ab
(g/hen) 251d 365c 382c
61.0a 61.7a 61.7a
(g/egg) 61.0b 62.2ab 62.3ab
62.7a 62.5a 62.4a
(g egg:g feed)
1 to 8 wk 2 wk 1 wk 1 to 8 wk 12 to 32 d 1 to 8 wk 1 wk Dietary molt treatments2
2 wk
12 to 18 d
12 to 25 d
1 wk
2 wk
Egg yield Egg weight Body weight gain Hen-day egg production
REFERENCES Brake, J., P. Thaxton, J. D. Garlich, and D. H. Sherwood, 1979. Comparison of fortified ground corn and pullet grower feeding regimes during a forced molt on subsequent layer performance. Poultry Sci. 58:785–790. Douglas, M. W., M. L. Johnson, and C. M. Parsons. 1997. Evaluation of protein and energy quality of rendered spent hen meals. Poultry Sci. 76:1387–1391. Harms, R. H., 1983. Influence of protein level in the resting diet upon performance of force rested hens. Poultry Sci. 62:273–276. Haque, A.K.M.A., J. J. Lyons, and J. M. Vandepopuliere, 1991. Extrusion processing of broiler starter diets containing ground whole hens, poultry by-product meal, feather meal, or ground feathers. Poultry Sci. 70:234–240. Kersey, J. H., C. M. Parsons, N. M. Dale, J. E. Marr, and P. W. Waldroup, 1997. Nutrient composition of spent hen meals produced by rendering. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 6:319–324. Kersey, J. H., and P. W. Waldroup, 1998. Utilization of spent hen meal in diets for broiler chickens. Poultry Sci. 77:1377–1387. Koelkebeck, K. W., C. M. Parsons, R. W. Leeper, S. Jin, and M. W. Douglas, 1999. Early postmolt performance of laying hens fed a low-protein corn molt diet supplemented with corn gluten meal, feather meal, methionine, and lysine. Poultry Sci. 78:1132–1137. Koelkebeck, K. W., C. M. Parsons, R. W. Leeper, and J. Moshtaghian, 1991. Effect of protein and methionine levels in molt diets on postmolt performance of laying hens. Poultry Sci. 70:2063–2073. Koelkebeck, K. W., C. M. Parsons, R. W. Leeper, and X. Wang, 1993. Effect of supplementation of a low-protein corn molt diet with amino acids on early postmolt laying hen performance. Poultry Sci. 72:1528–1563. Lyons, J. J., and J. M. Vandepopuliere, 1996. Spent Leghorn hens converted into feedstuffs. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 5:18–25. Steel, R.G.D., and J. H. Torrie, 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistics: A Biometrical Approach. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, NY.
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TABLE 3. Effect of dietary molt treatments on hen-day egg production, body weight gain, egg weight, egg yield, and feed efficiency, Experiment 21
1 to 8 wk
Feed efficiency
SPENT HEN MEAL IN MOLT DIETS
(Key words: laying hen, postmolt performance, molting, spent hen meal, amino acid) 2001 Poultry Science 80:353–357
feedstuffs (Haque et al., 1991; Lyons and Vandepopuliere, 1996). Lyons and Vandepopuliere (1996) reported that extrusion-processed spent Leghorn hens resulted in a high-protein/high-energy ingredient that could be fed to broilers. More recently, Douglas et al. (1997), Kersey et al. (1997), and Kersey and Waldroup (1998) reported on the nutrient composition of rendered spent hen meal (SHM) and utilization of SHM in broiler diets. In the latter study, Kersey and Waldroup (1998) showed that inclusion of SHM in a broiler diet up to a level of 10% produced acceptable growth performance. There has been no published research on the effects of using SHM in molting diets for laying hens. Because rendered SHM has been shown to have high CP levels, it was of interest to evaluate the effects of supplementing a molt ration with low-protein corn with SHM. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of supplementing a low-protein molt ration with several levels of SHM alone and in combination with amino acids on early postmolt layer performance.
INTRODUCTION There are numerous molting programs used in research and in the commercial layer industry. If the program is conducted properly, the productive life of a laying hen flock can be substantially increased. Many research studies on molting programs have focused on the physical manipulation of the program itself as well as the nutritional recovery of the diet used. Previous research has examined the effects of protein level in the molt diet (Brake et al., 1979; Harms, 1983; Koelkebeck et al., 1991, 1993, 1999). In particular, these studies have shown that hens return to egg production faster when fed a high- vs. low-protein corn molt diet. In addition, Koelkebeck et al. (1993; 1999) have shown that early postmolt laying hen performance may be enhanced by supplementation of a low-protein molt diet with high-protein ingredients such as corn gluten meal and feather meal or with amino acids (Met and Lys). During the past decade, there has been increasing interest in the utilization of spent hens by processing them into
Received for publication June 16, 2000. Accepted for publication November 20, 2000. 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected].
Abbreviation Key: SHM = spent hen meal.
353
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on August 14, 2015
ABSTRACT We used a total of 504 commercial Single Comb White Leghorn hens (69 and 65 wk of age) in each of two experiments, and hens were induced to molt by feed withdrawal only. Feed withdrawal lasted for 12 and 11 d, and hens lost 26 and 25% body weight in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. All hens were then weighed, and seven replicate groups of 12 hens each were assigned to molt diet treatments. In Experiment 1, diets consisted of a corn basal diet (7.9% CP) or corn basal diet supplemented with 7.5 or 10% spent hen meal (SHM) each from two different sources. In Experiment 2, the corn basal diet or this diet supplemented with 5 or 10% SHM alone or 5% SHM plus Met, Lys, and Trp was evaluated. A molt diet of 16% CP corn-soybean meal was used as a positive control in both experiments. Molt diets were fed for 15
354
KOELKEBECK ET AL.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Mortality averaged 1.2 and 2.0% from the beginning of the feed withdrawal period to the end of 8 wk on the layer diet in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Mortality did not differ significantly among treatments in either experiment. In Experiment 1, early egg production (Weeks 1 to 2) was greater (P < 0.05) for hens fed all SHM-supplemented diets and 16% CP diet compared to those fed the corn basal diet (Table 2). In addition, early egg production of hens fed the SHM-supplemented diets was comparable to that of hens fed the 16% CP corn-soybean meal diet. Hens fed the basal supplemented with SHM produced more eggs than hens fed the corn basal diet (Weeks 1 to 8). Body weight gain during each of the first 3 wk following the end of the feed withdrawal period was greater (P < 0.05) for hens fed the SHM-supplemented diets and the 16% CP diet compared to those fed the corn diet (Table 2). In addition, body weight gain was not different (P > 0.05) for hens fed the corn basal supplemented with 7.5 and 10% SHM A and 7.5% SHM B compared to those fed the 16% CP diet during the first week following feed withdrawal. This response continued into the second week following feed withdrawal for hens fed the basal supplemented with 10% SHM A compared to the positive control group (16% CP diet); by the third week, there were no significant differences in body weight among the SHM diets and the 16% CP diet. Similar results occurred for egg weight and egg yield as for egg production in Experiment 1 (Table 2). Early egg weight (Weeks 1 to 2 on the layer diet) was greater
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Two experiments were conducted, each utilizing a total of 504 commercial Single Comb White Leghorn hens housed in a fan-ventilated cage-type facility. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum prior to initiation of each experiment, and a 17-h photoperiod was maintained throughout the experiments. The hens were induced to molt by feed withdrawal only (free access to water) for 12 and 11 d in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Feed withdrawal was initiated when the hens were 69 or 65 wk of age, and body weight loss at the end of the feed withdrawal period was 26 or 25% in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. This method used to induce a molt (length of feed withdrawal and percentage body weight loss) was approved by our Laboratory Animal Care Committee. At the end of the feed withdrawal period, all hens were weighed, and seven replicate groups of 12 hens each (four adjacent raised wire cages, 30 × 46 cm, containing three hens each) were assigned to each dietary molt treatment so that average body weights were similar among treatments. In both experiments, molt diets (Table 1) were fed at a rate of 83 g per hen per day for the first 2 d following the feed withdrawal period and then were given feed ad libitum thereafter. Molt diets were fed for 15 d in both experiments until average egg production reached 10% when averaged over all treatments. At this time, all hens in both experiments were fed a 16% CP corn-soybean layer diet ad libitum (Table 1). Postmolt performance was monitored for 8 wk following the initiation of feeding the layer diet. The molt diet treatments in both experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of supplementing a lowprotein corn molt diet with several different levels and types of rendered SHM alone or in combination with Met, Lys, and Trp. The three SHM evaluated were SHM A or B or a blend of SHM A, B, and C (33.3% each) from the study of Douglas et al. (1997); complete nutritional descriptions are provided in that paper. In summary, the SHM A, B, and C contained, respectively, on an as-fed basis: TMEn (kcal/kg), 2,845, 2,350, 3,531; protein (%), 64.8, 55.9, 63.9; Lys (%), 4.19, 3.56, 4.28; Met (%), 1.28, 1.20, 1.38; Cys (%), 1.07, 0.84, 1.49. In Experiment 1, 7.5 and 10% SHM provided a general total dietary CP level of 12 to 13%, because a previous study (Koelkebeck et al., 1991) showed that these levels of CP yielded postmolt performance that was similar to a 16 or 17% CP cornsoybean meal diet. The levels of amino acid supplementation used in Experiment 2 were based on amino acid levels and responses in a previous study (Koelkebeck et al., 1993). The SHM A and B (Experiment 1) and blended SHM and amino acids (Experiment 2) were added to the basal diet in place of corn with Lys provided as LLysⴢHCl, Met as DL-Met, and Trp as L-Trp (Experiment 2). The levels of limestone and dicalcium phosphate were reduced as SHM was added to maintain a level of 2.0% Ca and 0.45% available P in all diets. The compositions of the individual experimental diets for Experiments 1 and 2 are shown in Table 1. The dietary
molt treatments in Experiment 1 consisted of a basal corn diet (7.9% CP), the basal supplemented with 7.5 or 10% SHM A or B, and a 16% CP corn-soybean meal diet (positive control). In Experiment 2, the dietary molt treatments consisted of the corn basal diet (7.9% CP); the basal diet supplemented with 5 or 10% blended SHM alone; 5% blended SHM plus Met and Lys; 5% blended SHM plus Met, Lys, and Trp; or a 16% CP corn-soybean meal diet. A detailed description of the nutritional composition and processing conditions for the SHM can be found in Douglas et al. (1997). In both experiments, body weights of all hens were measured each week for 3 wk following the start of feeding the molt diets. Egg production and mortality were recorded daily from the beginning of feeding the layer diet. Egg weight was measured each week on all eggs produced on 2 consecutive d. Egg yield (g of egg/hen per d) was calculated using hen-day egg production and egg weight. Feed consumption was measured weekly, and feed efficiency was calculated using egg yield and feed consumption. All data were analyzed by one-factor ANOVA appropriate for a completely randomized design (Steel and Torrie, 1980). Significant differences among treatment means were determined with the Fisher’s LSD test (Steel and Torrie, 1980).
TABLE 1. Composition and calculated analysis of the experimental molt diets and layer diet
Ingredients and analysis
Basal diet1
Experiment 1 Diet 2
Diet 3
Diet 4
Experiment 2 Diet 5
Diet 6
Diet 2
Diet 3
Diet 4
Diet 5
Diet 6
16% CP layer diet2
(%) 93.26 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.04 0.00 2.05 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
87.42 0.00 7.50 0.00 0.00 3.38 0.00 1.05 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
85.46 0.00 10.00 0.00 0.00 3.16 0.00 0.73 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
87.08 0.00 0.00 7.50 0.00 3.57 0.00 1.20 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
85.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 0.00 3.44 0.00 0.91 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
73.55 20.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.00 0.00 1.90 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.10
89.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 3.66 0.00 1.49 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
88.95 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 3.66 0.00 1.49 0.30 0.10 0.15 0.00 0.15 0.20
88.90 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 3.66 0.00 1.49 0.30 0.10 0.15 0.05 0.15 0.20
85.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 3.32 0.00 0.90 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.20
73.55 20.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.00 0.00 1.90 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.10
68.90 18.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 8.50 2.50 1.25 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.10
7.9 3,239 2.00 0.45 0.34 0.24
12.3 3,251 2.00 0.45 0.49 0.54
13.7 3,255 2.00 0.45 0.54 0.64
11.6 3,209 2.00 0.45 0.47 0.49
12.8 3,200 2.00 0.45 0.51 0.58
16.0 2,953 2.00 0.45 0.55 0.82
10.8 3,245 2.00 0.45 0.44 0.43
11.0 3,237 2.00 0.45 0.54 0.55
11.0 3,235 2.00 0.45 0.54 0.55
13.6 3,254 2.00 0.45 0.55 0.62
16.0 2,953 2.00 0.45 0.55 0.82
16.0 2,865 3.80 0.45 0.54 0.82
SPENT HEN MEAL IN MOLT DIETS
Ground yellow corn Soybean meal (dehulled) Spent hen meal A Spent hen meal B Spent hen meal (blended)3 Limestone Meat and bone meal Dicalcium phosphate Iodized salt DL-methionine L-lysineⴢHCl Tryptophan Trace mineral mix4 Vitamin premix5 Calculated analysis CP TMEn, kcal/kg Calcium Available phosphorus Methionine + cystine Lysine 1
The corn basal diet was fed as Diet 1 in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. The 16% CP corn-soybean meal layer diet was fed to all hens for 8 wk after average egg production reached 10%. 3 The spent hen meal fed in Diets 2, 3, 4, and 5 in Experiment 2 was a blend of spent hen Meals A and B fed in Experiment 1 and another commercially available spent hen meal (33.3% each). 4 Provided per kilogram of diet: vitamin A (as retinyl acetate), 4,400 IU; cholecalciferol (as activated animal sterol), 1,000 IU; vitamin E (as DL-α-tocopheryl acetate), 11 IU; vitamin B12, 0.01 mg; riboflavin, 4.41 mg; d-pantothenic acid, 10 mg; niacin; 22 mg; menadione sodium bisulfite, 2.33 mg. 5 Provided as milligrams per kilogram of diet: manganese, 75 from manganous oxide; iron, 75 from iron sulfate; zinc, 75 from zinc oxide; copper, 5 from copper sulfate; iodine, 0.35 from ethylene diamine dihydroiodide; selenium, 0.2 from sodium selenite. 2
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KOELKEBECK ET AL. TABLE 2. Effect of dietary molt treatments on hen-day egg production, body weight gain, egg weight, egg yield, and feed efficiency, Experiment 11 Hen-day egg production
Dietary molt treatments
1 wk
2 wk
1) B2 2) B + 7.5% spent hen Meal A 3) B + 10% spent hen Meal A 4) B + 7.5% spent hen Meal B 5) B + 10% spent hen Meal B 6) Corn-soybean meal (16% CP) Pooled SEM
11.5c 28.5ab 31.4a 23.9b 28.6ab 31.5a 2.5
39.5b 57.1a 58.2a 57.7a 58.3a 59.8a 3.6
Body weight gain
1 to 8 wk
13 to 19 d
59.3b 64.2ab 65.1a 65.0ab 65.0ab 66.8a 2.0
193c 281ab 296a 269ab 231bc 300a 22
(%)
13 to 26 d
Egg weight
13 to 33 d
1 wk
334b 418a 399a 413a 423a 446a 18
58.6c 61.2ab 60.9b 59.7bc 61.3ab 62.8a 0.6
(g/hen) 242d 408bc 434ab 386c 410bc 445a 12
2 wk
1 to 8 wk
1 wk
59.7b 61.8a 60.8ab 60.5ab 61.0ab 61.7a 0.5
6.7c 17.5ab 19.1a 14.3b 17.5ab 19.7a 1.6
(g/egg) 57.2c 62.1ab 61.0ab 60.7b 61.2ab 62.6a 0.6
Feed efficiency
Egg yield 2 wk
1 to 8 wk
(g egg/hen per d) 22.6b 35.5a 35.4a 34.9a 35.7a 37.5a 2.2
35.6b 39.8a 39.6a 39.3a 39.7a 41.1a 1.2
1 to 8 wk (g egg:g feed) 0.335b 0.365a 0.364a 0.359a 0.366a 0.373a 0.008
Means within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < 0.05). Data are means of seven groups of 12 hens each. Data for hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg yield, and feed efficiency are for the first 8 wk on the layer diet. Data for body weight gain are for three consecutive wk following the feed withdrawal period. 2 B = corn basal diet. a–d 1
by the third week, body weight gain was greater (P < 0.05) only for hens fed the basal supplemented with 10% SHM and the 16% CP diet compared to hens fed the basal diet alone. There were few significant differences detected for egg weight among dietary treatments. Egg yield was increased by supplementation of the corn diet with SHM and hens fed diets containing 5% SHM plus Met, Lys, and Trp; 10% SHM produced egg yields that were not significantly different from hens fed the 16% CP diets during the first week and for Weeks 1 to 8. Feed efficiency (Weeks 1 to 8) was the highest for hens fed the corn basal supplemented with 5% SHM plus amino acids, basal supplemented with 10% SHM, and the 16% CP diet. The results obtained herein agree with the earlier reports that hens fed a high-protein molt diet following feed withdrawal will return to egg production faster, regain body weight quicker, produce larger eggs, and have greater egg yield than hens fed a low-protein corn diet (Brake et al., 1979; Harms, 1983; Koelkebeck et al., 1991, 1993, 1999). The results further indicate that supplementing a low-protein corn molt diet with several levels of SHM can improve and produce early postmolt performance that is nearly equivalent to feeding a high-protein molt diet. The positive response to SHM is most likely due primarily to protein or amino acids as we have observed similar positive responses with other high-protein ingredients such as corn gluten meal and feather meal and also amino acids (Koelkebeck et al., 1993, 1999). The type of SHM seems to make little overall difference in postmolt performance, and a 7.5% inclusion rate seems to be adequate for early postmolt performance. However, our results suggest that supplementing a low-protein molt diet with only 5% of a blended SHM may not provide enough protein or amino acids to adequately provide for maximum early postmolt performance unless additional amino acids are added as well. The results of our study indicate that SHM is a good ingredient for molt rations. It will increase early egg production compared to feeding a low-protein corn molt diet and also provides another means of utilizing spent hens.
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for hens fed all SHM-supplemented diets and the 16% CP diet compared to the corn basal diet; however, egg weight for Weeks 1 to 8 was greater (P < 0.05) only for hens fed the basal supplemented with 7.5% SHM A and the 16% CP diet compared to those fed the corn basal diet alone. As a result of greater egg production and egg weight, egg yield was consistently greater (P < 0.05) for hens fed the SHM-supplemented diets and 16% CP diet compared to those fed the basal diet (Weeks 1, 2, and 1 to 8). The results for feed efficiency for Weeks 1 to 8 were similar to that depicted for overall egg yield (Table 2). The egg weights, egg yields, and feed efficiencies of hens fed SHM supplemented molt diets were generally not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of hens fed the 16% CP molt diet. In Experiment 2, supplementation of the corn basal diet with 5 or 10% SHM increased (P < 0.05) early egg production (Table 3). Early egg production (Week 1), however, was greater (P < 0.05) for hens fed the 16% CP diet compared to hens fed the basal supplemented with 5% SHM alone or 5% SHM plus Met and Lys. Egg production was not significantly different (P > 0.05) for hens fed the basal supplemented with 5% SHM plus Met, Lys, and Trp, and 10% SHM compared to hens fed the 16% CP diet during Week 1. Egg production was greatest (P < 0.05) for hens fed the 16% CP diet, intermediate for all SHM- and amino acid-supplemented diets, and least for those fed the corn basal diet alone during Week 2. Similar egg production results occurred for Weeks 1 to 8, as was observed for the first week. As observed for egg production, body weight gain following the feed withdrawal period was increased by supplementing the corn diet with 5 or 10% SHM (Table 3). Body weight gain following the feed withdrawal period was greater (P < 0.05) during the first week for hens fed the basal supplemented with 10% SHM and the 16% CP diet compared to hens fed the basal alone or basal supplemented with 5% SHM (Table 3); the SHM plus amino acid diets were intermediate. This response continued to the second week following feed withdrawal; however,
357
Means within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < 0.05). Data are means of seven groups of 12 hens each. Data for hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg yield, and feed efficiency are for the first 8 wk on the layer diet. Data for body weight gain are for three consecutive wk following the feed withdrawal period. 2 The spent hen meal used in Experiment 2 was a blend of spent hen Meal A, B, and a commercial spent hen meal (33.3% each). 3 B = corn basal diet. 1
a–d
0.374ab 0.396a 0.012 46.8b 62.8a 3.8 28.4ab 34.7a 3.0
61.5ab 68.1a 2.5
290a 287a 10
445ab 459a 17
444ab 481a 25
62.3a 62.6a 1.2
62.6ab 64.2a 0.9
30.1b 39.3a 2.4 18.0ab 21.6a 2.0 64.0a 63.3a 0.7
39.4ab 43.1a 1.6
0.383ab 38.4ab 48.6b 29.9ab
61.1ab
267ab
409bc
420abc
61.3a
62.6ab
30.5b 18.4ab 62.7a
0.313c 0.354b 0.368ab
(g egg/hen per d) 5.0c 14.9c 30.7c 13.8b 25.2b 35.8b 15.9ab 26.7b 37.0b 355c 405bc 412abc 49.0c 57.1b 59.1b
(%) 24.4c 40.6b 43.0b
1) B3 2) B + 5% spent hen Meal 3) B + 5% spent hen Meal + 0.1% DL-Met + 0.15% L-lysⴢHCl 4) B + 5% spent hen Meal + 0.1% DL-Met + 0.15% L-lysⴢHCl + 0.05% Trp 5) B + 10% spent hen Meal 6) Corn-soybean meal (16% CP) Pooled SEM
8.2c 22.1b 25.7b
195c 252b 263ab
(g/hen) 251d 365c 382c
61.0a 61.7a 61.7a
(g/egg) 61.0b 62.2ab 62.3ab
62.7a 62.5a 62.4a
(g egg:g feed)
1 to 8 wk 2 wk 1 wk 1 to 8 wk 12 to 32 d 1 to 8 wk 1 wk Dietary molt treatments2
2 wk
12 to 18 d
12 to 25 d
1 wk
2 wk
Egg yield Egg weight Body weight gain Hen-day egg production
REFERENCES Brake, J., P. Thaxton, J. D. Garlich, and D. H. Sherwood, 1979. Comparison of fortified ground corn and pullet grower feeding regimes during a forced molt on subsequent layer performance. Poultry Sci. 58:785–790. Douglas, M. W., M. L. Johnson, and C. M. Parsons. 1997. Evaluation of protein and energy quality of rendered spent hen meals. Poultry Sci. 76:1387–1391. Harms, R. H., 1983. Influence of protein level in the resting diet upon performance of force rested hens. Poultry Sci. 62:273–276. Haque, A.K.M.A., J. J. Lyons, and J. M. Vandepopuliere, 1991. Extrusion processing of broiler starter diets containing ground whole hens, poultry by-product meal, feather meal, or ground feathers. Poultry Sci. 70:234–240. Kersey, J. H., C. M. Parsons, N. M. Dale, J. E. Marr, and P. W. Waldroup, 1997. Nutrient composition of spent hen meals produced by rendering. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 6:319–324. Kersey, J. H., and P. W. Waldroup, 1998. Utilization of spent hen meal in diets for broiler chickens. Poultry Sci. 77:1377–1387. Koelkebeck, K. W., C. M. Parsons, R. W. Leeper, S. Jin, and M. W. Douglas, 1999. Early postmolt performance of laying hens fed a low-protein corn molt diet supplemented with corn gluten meal, feather meal, methionine, and lysine. Poultry Sci. 78:1132–1137. Koelkebeck, K. W., C. M. Parsons, R. W. Leeper, and J. Moshtaghian, 1991. Effect of protein and methionine levels in molt diets on postmolt performance of laying hens. Poultry Sci. 70:2063–2073. Koelkebeck, K. W., C. M. Parsons, R. W. Leeper, and X. Wang, 1993. Effect of supplementation of a low-protein corn molt diet with amino acids on early postmolt laying hen performance. Poultry Sci. 72:1528–1563. Lyons, J. J., and J. M. Vandepopuliere, 1996. Spent Leghorn hens converted into feedstuffs. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 5:18–25. Steel, R.G.D., and J. H. Torrie, 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistics: A Biometrical Approach. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, NY.
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TABLE 3. Effect of dietary molt treatments on hen-day egg production, body weight gain, egg weight, egg yield, and feed efficiency, Experiment 21
1 to 8 wk
Feed efficiency
SPENT HEN MEAL IN MOLT DIETS