Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In the studies that we have conducted at the University of Illinois we have used DeKalb and Hy-Line W-36 hens housed in a commercial-type cage layer facility with 3 hens per cage (72 sq. in. per hen). In all studies, the photoperiod was reduced from 17 to 10 hr per day and they were started in the summer months and lasted for 44 weeks (4 weeks for the molt period and 40 weeks for the postmolt lay period). After the molt period all hens were fed a layer diet from Weeks 5 to 44, and the photoperiod was gradually increased back up to 17 hr following the molt period. Study 1. In the first study, DeKalb White strain hens were either continually fed a corn diet, a wheat middlings diet, fasted for 4 days, then fed a corn diet, or fasted for 10 days, then fed a corn diet. The results of this study showed that hens fed a wheat middlings diet produced a reduction in egg production by Day 8 and the hens stayed out of production until Day 15. Thus, this study indicated that feeding a
diet that was high in wheat middlings would induce hens to molt and postmolt performance was nearly equal to a program which utilized a conventional feed withdrawal molting technique. Study 2. In this study, we decided to use other feed ingredients and combinations. We tested the feeding of wheat middlings, corn, corn gluten feed, corn distillers grain, and combinations of wheat middlings and corn. Hens were conventionally molted (10 days fast) and went out of production the soonest and stayed out of production during the molt period. Those fed a 71:23% combination of wheat middlings and corn seemed to go out of production the best of all the non-feed withdrawal treatments. In addition, postmolt egg production for hens fed a 71:23% combination of wheat middlings and corn produced nearly as well as those conventionally molted for the entire study (Weeks 1 to 44). Study 3. After the previous study concluded, we then decided to use pelleted and non-pelleted soybean hulls, alfalfa meal,
combinations of corn and soybean hulls, wheat middlings and soybean hulls, and wheat middlings and rice hulls. For the most part, postmolt hen-housed egg production for all combinations and diets except 47% corn:47% soybean hulls seemed to provide comparable results to a 10-day fast conventional method. Study 4. After examining the results of the previous studies, we noticed that using a non-feed withdrawal molt diet program using wheat middlings, soybean hulls, and various combinations of the two with corn we could not induce the hens to go completely out of production. In this study, six diet combinations were fed at a rate of 12 lbs./100 hens/day for 28 days, and two combinations are full fed the first 7 days, then fed at a rate of 12 lbs./100 hens/day for days 8 to 28. All combination diets were 47% corn with either 47% wheat middlings or 47% soybean hulls plus vitamins and minerals. The results of this study showed that the limit feeding of the corn:soybean hulls combination
diets forced hens out of production at a faster rate than the corn:wheat middlings combinations, and corn:soybean hulls combination provided for good long-term postmolt performance
PARTICIPANTS: Ken Koelkebeck in cooperation with the NE-1022 Multistate Committee.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Egg Producers
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None
Impacts
Based on our work, it is apparent that using non-feed withdrawal molt diets containing wheat middlings or soybean hulls in combination with corn would be feasible as an alternative molting program compared to using a feed withdrawal program. The exact combination of wheat middlings or soybean hulls with corn has not been firmly established. Egg production companies have successfully adapted the non-feed withdrawal molting program that we have developed to their own specific circumstances. Indeed, further research is needed to determine the most optimum non-feed withdrawal molting program. However, to date, successful results have been achieved by egg production companies who have implemented a non-feed withdrawal molting program in their operation.
Publications
- Biggs, P.E., Douglas, M.W., Koelkebeck, K.W. and Parsons, C.M. 2003. Evalution of nonfeed removal meothods for molting programs. Poultry Sci. 82:749-753.
- Biggs, P.E., Persia, M.E., Koelkebeck, K.W. and Parsons, C.M. 2004. Further evaluation of nonfeed removal methods for molting programs. Poultry Sci. 83:745-752.
- Anderson, K.E. and Koelkebeck, K.W. 2007. Realistic views concerning poultry welfare. Poultry Sci. 86:1251-1252.
- Koelkebeck, K.W. and Anderson, K.E. 2007. Molting layers - Alternative methods and their effectiveness. Poultry Sci. 86:1260-1264.
|
Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
This study indicated that feeding a soybean hulls-corn diet for 21, 28, or 35 days resulted in cumulative and postmolt egg production that was similar as the 10-day feed withdrawal. Feeding a wheat middlings-corn diet for 21 days also resulted in comparable egg production to the 10-day feed withdrawal treatment. Feeding a corn diet for 35 days yielded the lowest postmolt egg production. These data will be used to establish the beneficial effects of composting to reduce AE from laying hen manure. An obvious benefit from AE inhibiting treatments is demonstrated and an obvious need for more information in relation to application level and frequency of application is needed for proper management.
Impacts
These results indicated that feeding anon-feed withdrawal molt diet will not have a negative impact on postmolt laying hen performance.
Publications
- Koelkebeck, K.W., Parsons, C.M., Biggs, P. and Utterback, P. 2006. Nonwithdrawal molting programs. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 15:483-491.
|
Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
In the latest experiment, laying hens were induced to molt by feeding combinations of wheat middlings and corn, and soybean hulls and corn vs hens that were molted by conventional feed withdrawal. This study showed that limit feeding a diet of 47% soybean hulls and 47% corn tended to force hens out of production at a faster rate than a corn:wheat middlings diet. It is anticipated that postmolt production performance will be improved by the use of this non-feed withdrawal molting technique.
Impacts
These results indicate that limit feeding a molt diet may help improve postmolt egg production performance.
Publications
- Koelkebeck, K.W. 2005. Non-feed withdrawal molt programs: What have we learned? Proc. of 2005 Multi-State Poultry Feeding and Nutrition Conference. Indianapolis, IN, 18 pages.
|
Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
This project involves the use of non-feed removal techniques/molt diets to intiate a molt in commercial laying hens. This research is of extreme importance to the commercial egg industry because of the concerns voiced by animal rights groups. We have conducted several experiments which has dealt with feeding laying hens low energy/low protein molt diets coupled with photoperiod reduction to successfully molt commercial laying hens. These studies have indicated that postmolt egg prodution performance is nearly as good as using a conventional feed removal program. Postmolt production has typically been about 2% lower than with a conventional program, but with lower mortality and similar postmolt egg shell quality.
Impacts
In the most recent research that we have conducted, Biggs et al., 2004, we showed that molt diets containing either 71% wheat middlings:23% corn, 47% wheat middlings:47% corn, or 95% corn gluten feed were effective in inducing hens to molt and postmolt egg production performance was similar to that for hens which were molted by removing feed for 10 days. Thus, this research indicated that feeding diets containing combinations of wheat middlings and corn are effective nonfeed removal methods for molting laying hens.
Publications
- Biggs, P.E., Persia, M.E., Koelkebeck, K.W. and Parsons, C.M. 2004. Further evaluation of nonfeed removal methods for molting programs. Poultry Sci. 83:745-752.
|
|