EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ENERGY AND LYSINE ON THE PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF LAYING HENS.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of energy and lysine on production performance of laying hens. For this purpose, 448 laying hens of body weight 1560±60 grams were used in 2×2 factorial arrangements with 14 replicates per treatment and 8 birds per replicate. The treatments were: standard energy (2800 kcal/kg) with standard lysine (0.67%), standard energy (2800 kcal/kg) with low lysine (0.65%), low energy (2750 kcal/kg) with standard lysine (0.67%) and low energy (2750 kcal/kg) with low lysine (0.65%). Feed intake, egg production, yolk height, albumin height, yolk diameter, egg specific gravity, egg breaking strength, eggshell thickness and blood metabolites were measured. Results showed that feed intake in first week was maximum (P<0.05) for diet with standard energy and low lysine while in last week feed intake was maximum (P<0.05) in low energy and low lysine diet. Results also showed that egg production, egg weight, egg quality parameters and blood metabolites were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Nutrient digestibility was highest (P<0.05) for diet having low energy and standard lysine. It can be concluded that decreasing energy and lysine in late laying hens affects (P<0.05) feed intake and nutrient digestibility but had no effect (P>0.05) on egg production, egg weight, egg quality parameters and blood metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]