[The vitamin A supply of laying hens including during rearing. 2. Effect of varied vitamin A supplementation of mixed feed in rearing on production in the laying period].

In six experiments with laying hybrids the influence of a varied nutritive beta-carotene and vitamin A supply during rearing on the performance in the laying period was tested. Basal rations poor in carotene without vitamin A supplementation in the rearing period diminished feed intake and laying performance in the laying period, retarded the beginning of intensive laying and increased feed expenditure per 100 g egg if the feed for laying hens contained less than 5000 IU vitamin A per kg. Relations between varied vitamin A supply and the performance parameters of the laying performance could not be proved if chick and young hen feed with maize even without vitamin A supplement or if rearing feed with approximately 2500 IU vitamin A or laying hen feed greater than 5000 IU vitamin A supply were used.