Response of laying naked neck X Cari-Red (Hitcari) Hens to varying levels of dietary protein and amino acids during first phase of egg production

An experiment was conducted involving 84 Naked neck x CARI-Red hens (Hitcari), suitable for backyard, during 22–34 weeks of age to evaluate optimum dietary protein and limiting amino acid levels for optimum egg production performance. Four dietary treatments, consisted of different levels of protein (T₁ 18%, T₂ 16%, T₃ 14% and T₄ 12%) and thus amino acids, were formulated. Each dietary treatment was fed to a total of 21 hens of both feather pattern i.e. naked neck (n=10) and normal feathered hens ((n=11) up to 34 weeks of age. Fifteen eggs from each dietary groups laid on first two consecutive days during 26th, 30th and 34th week of experimental feeding were utilized for quality testing in respect of shape index, albumen index, yolk index, Haugh unit, shell weight and shell thickness. Overall hen-day production was 68.4, 64.9, 62.2 and 61.1% in dietary treatments T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄, respectively. The difference however was not significant even though hens laid more eggs with increased level of CP in the diet. Daily feed intake, egg-weight and egg quality did not differ significantly due to dietary treatments. However, feed conversion efficiency was significantly poor in hens fed 12% CP. The study indicated that a dietary level of 14 to 16% CP with lysine 0.68–0.84%, methionine 0.32–0.34%, methionine +cystine 0.62–0.67% and threonine 0.58–0.68% in diet would be optimum for maximum egg production performance during first phase of production. Feather pattern (naked neck or normal plumage) of birds did not influence egg production or feed utilization.