ORIGINAL PAPER
Effect of utilization of maize silage in moult inducing diets on performance, immune response and bone quality in laying hens
More details
Hide details
1
Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Basij Square, 49189-43464, Gorgan, Iran
2
Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sari-Gorgan highway, 49341-74515, Gorgan, Iran
Publication date: 2016-02-28
Corresponding author
H. Ayasi
Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Basij Square, 49189-43464, Gorgan, Iran
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2016;25(1):52-57
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to evaluate the utilization of maize
silage (MS) in moult induction and its effects on immune response and bone
quality in laying hens. Laying hens were subjected to 1 of 6 treatments: full-fed
(control; FF); total feed withdrawal (positive control for moult induction; FW);
100% MS (M100); 90% MS + 10% layer ration (LR) (M90); 80% MS + 20% LR
(M80); and 70% MS + 30% LR (M70). After 9 days body weight loss occurred
in all moulting treatments. The examined treatments caused cessation of egg
production on day 4 (M90), 5 (FW, M100) and 7 (M70, M80). On day 6 the
heterophil : lymphocyte (H:L) ratio did not differ between all MS treatments and
FF; however FW caused its increasing only in comparison to FF, M80 and
M70. On day 9 H:L ratio for FF did not differ only from M70 and M90. Antibody
production against sheep red blood cell was unaffected by all moulting
treatments. The femur dry weight for FF did not differ from M70, M80, M100;
however there was observed no difference between FW and M70, M90, M100.
The treatments caused decrease of femur ash content in comparison to FF
group (except M70) with the lowest value in FW. In conclusion, obtained data
indicate that the use of MS mixed with LR results in moult induction. Likewise,
it is suggested to use 70% MS addition because of reduced moulting stress in
birds and smaller losses of bone mineralization.
CITATIONS (1):
1.
Research Note: Effect of corn silage and alfalfa meal as alternative induced molt methods to improving Salmonella Enteritidis resistance in laying hens
Hossein Ayasi, Behrouz Dastar, Taghi Ghoorchi, Seyed Hashemi, Alijan Tabaraei, Morteza Alemi
Poultry Science