The responses of Shaver Brown layers to different feeding trough allowances have been investigated by S.S. Diarra and A. Devi at the University of the South Pacific on Samoa.

In the International Journal of Poultry Science, they describe their experiment in which 300 18-week-old Shaver Brown pullets (1,477.40±7.41g) were allotted to five treatment groups, each containing three replicates of 20 pullets.

The treatments consisted of five feeding space allowances (FSA): 5.6, 8.4, 11.2, 14.0 and 16.8cm per bird.

Data were collected on feed consumption, weight change, egg production and feed conversion ratio (feed: dozen eggs) for a period of 20 weeks (18 to 38 weeks of age).

All data collected were subjected to analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and significant differences reported at five per cent probability.

Mean feed consumption, bodyweight change and egg weight were not significantly affected by FSA.

Pullets given access to FSA of 11.2, 14.0 and 16.8cm per bird laid the first egg at a significantly earlier age than those given 5.6 or 8.4cm.

Hen-day egg production (HDP) and egg mass increased with increasing FSA up to 14.0cm per bird. Hen-day production did not differ between the groups given 8.4 and 16.8cm per bird.

Groups given 5.6cm per bird consumed more feed per dozen egg produced.

The lowest feed consumption per dozen eggs was recorded on 11.2 and 14.0cm FSA per bird.

These results suggest that keeping the feeding space between 11.0 and 14.0cm per hen will improve flock uniformity and reduce cost of egg production of Shaver Brown hens in the study area, concluded Diarra and Devi.

Reference

Diarra S.S. and A. Devi. 2014. Response of Shaver Brown laying hens to different feeding space allowances. International Journal of Poultry Science. 13:714-717

March 2015