Effect of utilization of maize silage in moult inducing diets on performance, immune response and bone quality in laying hens

Research Note: Effect of corn silage and alfalfa meal as alternative induced molt methods to improving Salmonella Enteritidis resistance in laying hens

“…The value of 11 to 25.1% BWL during molting period was reported ( Donalson et al, 2005 ) due to the use of diet with different levels of alfalfa meal. Ayasi et al (2016) also reported that feeding corn silage from 70 to 100% levels for 10 d caused hens to lose 29.31 to 34.17 % of their BW. Anyway, body weight loss during the molting period is one of the most important factors directly related to post-molt egg production and eggshell qualities.…”

“…Use of appetite suppression agents and high fiber feedstuffs causes to slow passage rate in the guts and might have influenced feed intake, causing a feeling of satiety and thus refraining hens from eating. Corn silage and alfalfa meal contain high levels of fiber and are known as bulky feeds, which may reduce the hens feed intake by decreasing palatability ( Ayasi et al, 2016 ; Chanaksorn et al, 2019 ).…”

“…However, there was no insignificant difference between molting groups for a mean number of days to zero egg production ( Table 1 ). Hens stopped egg laying several days after molting because of receiving an inadequate amount of nutrients as shown by some researchers ( Ayasi et al, 2016 ).…”

“…The SCFAs have been extensively examined as potential modulators for Salmonella virulence after they were shown to change GIT environment acid to unsuitable for salmonella species. Over the last few years, the ad libitum feeding of alfalfa meal ( Donalson et al, 2005 ) and corn silage ( Ayasi et al, 2016 ) were identified as effective methods for molt induction.…”