Comparison of the effect of different methods of molt: Production and welfare evaluation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate alternative molting protocols assessing hen welfare and performance during and after molt. Hyline W-36 pullets were housed at 15 wk of age, and their egg production was obtained during this first cycle. When birds were 80 wk, the following molting treatments were applied: a conventional molt consisting of 10 d of fasting followed by cracked corn for 8 d and a pullet developer diet for 10 d; and 4 alternative molting programs: a soy hulls-based diet (12% CP, 1,455 kcal/kg of ME, and 1.38% Ca) offered for 14 d followed by cracked corn for 4 d and a pullet developer diet for 10 d; and the other 3 molt regimens consisted of feeding soy hulls for 4, 8, or 12 d followed by 10, 6, or 2 d, respectively, of a soy hulls-based diet and 4 d of cracked corn plus 10 d of a pullet developer diet. A nonmolted group of birds was fed a laying hen diet during the experimental period. Hen-day egg number was recorded daily for 56 wk (through 80-136 wk of age). The nonmolted hens showed lower hen-day production and fewer intact eggs and a higher number of cracked and shell-less eggs compared with those of the molted hens (P < 0.0001). A significant treatment by age effect (P < 0.0001) was observed for the variables of high-density lipoproteins and triglycerides. Control hens showed the lowest high-density lipoprotein concentration and the highest triglyceride levels at 84 wk of age when compared with all treatments. The lack of difference in heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio during molt suggests little influence of molting protocols on this variable. Regardless of the treatments, molting was deleterious to bone quality. A high mobilization of Ca through bone resorption for eggshell formation could explain the results obtained. Behavioral patterns coincided with a decline in frustration activities and an increase in alertness as molt proceeded until 83 wk of age. Alternative molting diets consisting of soybean hulls were successful in providing acceptable postmolt egg production performance.

Requirement of Sodium to Molted Laying Hens

“…There is very limited literature about the performance, egg composition, egg solids, egg quality, and profits of postmolt hens (Wu et al, 2007), especially at long-term, a period near or exceeding to 100 weeks. An induced molting not only may improve performance and eggshell quality, but also increase profits by optimizing the use of replacement pullets on commercial layer farms (Lee, 1982;Barker et al, 1981;Bell, 2003;Mazzuco et al, 2011;Gongruttananun, 2018) proving the importance to understand its effect at long-term. Wilson et al (1967) studying several methods of inducing a molt and subsequent rest period, observed that molted hens present a better performance and shell thickness at short-term without affect the egg weight and albumen quality, regardless to the molt process used.…”

Kurva produksi telur di awal masa peneluran pada puyuh yang diberi ransum dengan kandungan protein berbeda

“…Selanjutnya data aktual produksi telur puyuh dianalisis dengan model regresi logistik. Model ini digunakan karena dapat mengevaluasi pengaruh perlakuan, umur dan interaksi antara keduanya (Mazzuco et al, 2011). Persamaan model regresi logistik (Ott, Longnecker, Taylor, & Payumo, 2010) yang digunakan adalah sebagai berikut:…”

Evaluación de dietas hipocalóricas e hiperfibrosas sobre la muda inducida en gallinas en postura

“…UU. y la UE ya han sido eliminadas (Mazzuco et al, 2011); prácticas que en México seguramente están próximas a ser suprimidas. Debido a que el ayuno prolongado no solo estimula la muda en las aves; además propicia incremento de enfermedades por la supresión del sistema inmune (Ricke, 2003), debido a que inducen una cascada de adaptaciones fisiológicas para restaurar la homeostasis; tal es el caso de la movilización de células del sistema inmunitario al torrente sanguíneo (Mumma et al, 2006), aumento de la proporción de heterófilos-linfocitos circulantes (Campo et al, 2008) y cambios en la etología de las aves (Dunkley et al, 2008).…”