IMPROVEMENT OF PRODUCTIVITY AND EGG QUALITY WITH CALCIUM LEVELS BASED UPON FEEDING TIME SCHEDULE ON LAYERS

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the productivity and egg quality on layer which given different calcium levels based upon time feeding schedule. Combination of calcium morning (AM) and afternoon (PM) of lsocalory-nitrogen feed were fed to serve calcium and other nutrients needed as physiological egg fonnation especially shell egg as an effort to improve egg quality and production. Three levels of calcium (2.0; 3.5; and 5.0 %) were fed for 3 months during egg production. Sixty three layers 70 weeks of egg were divided into 7 treatments; every treatment was repeated 3 times with each 3 layers. Those treatment were Tl (3.5 AM and 3.5 PM), T2 (2.0 AM and 5.0 PM), T3 (5.0 AM and 2.0 PM), T4 (3.5 AM and 2.0 PM), T5 (2.0 AM and 3.0 PM), T6 (3.5 AM and 5.0 PM), and T7 (5.0 AM and 3.5 PM). Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA, followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The result of the study showed that, isocalory-nitrogen feed with different calcium levels on AM and PM feeding time affected on egg production (P< .05), calcium consumption, weight and percentage of shell egg and also on egg shell index (P< .01). It was concluded that the patterns of moming and afternoon feed intake had little changes, morning feed intake increased when morning Ca feed was low and afternoon feed intake reduced when Ca feed was high and vice versa. Increasing intake of dietary Ca significantly improved performance of laying hens, absolute weight and percentage of eggshell, and improved shell index, but over consumption of Ca intake reduced that performance. Dietary Ca requirement for laying hens from 70 to 82 weeks of age was 4.72 g per hen daily.