Effectiveness of Low Sodium Diets for Recycling of Egg Production Type Hens

Abstract

Egg type hens were recycled by the use of low sodium diet treatments compared to a conventional forced-molt procedure and an unrecycled control. Use of a low sodium diet containing .02 to .06% sodium for 6 weeks with reduction in daily photoperiod resulted in improvements in egg production, egg specific gravity, and albumen thickness similar to those of a forced-molt group in three separate experiments. Egg production was increased 11 to 13%, egg specific gravity was increased by .002 to .004, and albumen thickness was increased by 2 to 8 Haugh units over the 32-week posttreatment period for both treatments. Hens fed the low sodium diet for 3.5 or 4 weeks did not respond as favorably as hens fed this diet for 6 weeks. Eight weeks on the low sodium diet did not further improve performance. Results comparable to the forced-molt procedure were achieved with a decline in egg production at .03 to .07% sodium in the diet, a decline in feed intake at .03 to .07% sodium, a loss in body weight at .03 to .10% sodium, and an increase in molt score at .03 to .11% sodium during the experimental period. During the posttreatment period, results comparable to the forced-molt procedure were obtained for egg production increase at .03 to .08% sodium, for egg specific gravity increase at .03 to .12% sodium, and for egg albumen thickness increase at .03 to .12% dietary sodium. Mortality was unchanged.

Effect of Molting Method and Dietary Energy on Postmolt Performance of Two Strains of Single Comb White Leghorn Hens

“…Although feed intake of hens molted by feed withdrawal was significantly higher than that of hens molted by the low-salt diet in wk 2, 5, and 9, there was no significant difference in overall feed intake between hens molted by feed withdrawal and hens molted by the low-salt diet. This result was similar to that of Naber et al [14]. Bovans hens had significantly higher egg production and lower egg weight than Dekalb hens ( Table 2).…”

“…Naber et al [14] and Said et al [15] reported that low-sodium diets can be effective in recycling hens for a second period of egg production. However, hens molted using low-salt diets had decreased egg production and eggshell thickness during postmolt egg production [11] compared with the conventional feed withdrawal program.…”

“…Effectiveness of several nonfeed removal molting diets including low-sodium diets [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15], low-calcium diets [16], high-zinc diets [17][18][19], and low-protein and low-energy diets [20,21] have been evaluated. Naber et al [14] and Said et al [15] reported that low-sodium diets can be effective in recycling hens for a second period of egg production.…”

Salmonella Enteritidis in shell eggs: Current issues and prospects for control

“…Some successful diets have involved reducing salt or sodium (Naber, Latshaw, & Marsh, 1984), or calcium (Martin, Morris, Gehle, & Harwood, 1973), but these diets have given inconsistent results when tested by other researchers (Berry, 2003). Feeding high concentrations of zinc led to higher egg production and greater egg weights as compared to conventional feed withdrawal .…”

Utilização de diferentes níveis de suplementação de sódio para poedeiras comerciais no segundo ciclo de produção

“…Ao avaliar quatro níveis de sódio, Naber et al (1984) verificaram que as poedeiras alimentadas com dietas contendo baixo nível de sódio (0,046%) cessaram a produção de ovos em duas semanas, perderam cerca de 22% do peso vivo em três semanas e reduziram o consumo pela metade em relação ao grupo controle que recebeu ração com 0,20% de sódio. Junqueira (1988) avaliou níveis e fonte de sódio para poedeiras com 48 semanas de idade e não encontrou efeito significativo nas características de produção, peso, massa de ovos, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar.…”