Effect of Low Protein Diets on Production Performance, Egg Quality and Serum Biochemical Indices of Vanaraja Laying Hens

The effect of feeding low protein diets on production performance, egg quality and serum biochemical parameters were evaluated in Vanaraja laying hens (35–46 weeks). A total of 108, Vanaraja laying hens were randomly distributed into four treatment with three replicates of nine birds in each replicate pen in a complete randomized design. Four different diets were formulated containing different levels of protein (13, 14.5, 16 and 17.5% CP) with similar energy (2, 600 ME kcal/kg) and the ratio of lysine and methionine to CP were kept constant in all the diets. Each dietary group were offered a measured quantity of feed daily. The body weight gain was significantly higher (P<0.05) in birds fed 13% CP diet compared to birds fed 16 and 17.5% CP diets. The hen-housed egg production, egg weight, egg mass per day and feed efficiency (g egg/g feed) were not influenced by variation in CP contents of the diet. There was no influence of dietary protein levels on egg quality parameters like albumin%, yolk%, haugh unit and egg shell thickness except egg shell%. Significantly higher (P<0.05) egg shell percentage was noticed in 16% CP diet (P<0.05) compared to either 13 and 14.5% CP diet. Serum biochemical parameters like concentration of total protein, globulin, calcium, cholesterol, creatinine and alkaline phosphatase were influenced significantly (P<0.05) by dietary protein levels at 46 weeks of age. From the overall findings, it is concluded that diet containing 13% CP is adequate for optimum production performance and egg quality in Vanaraja laying hens during 35 to 46 week of age.