Department of Animal Nutrition, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar-125 004, India
Online published on 21 January, 2012.
A feeding trial involving 468 day-old commercial egg type chicken was conducted upto a period of 100 days egg production for studying the effect of different levels of protein (18-14-15; 20-16-17 and 22-18-19%, respectively for starting—growing—laying period), each with three energy levels (2800, 2900 and 3000 Kcal ME/kg) on N balance, egg-based fertility and hatchability.
The study revealed no difference with respect to N retention (%) at any stage of growth or egg production with different levels of dietary protein and energy. However, higher N retention (g/100 Kcal ME intake) were observed relative to diets with energy; protein ratio 127.3-131.8 :1, 155.5-175 :1 and 147.4-176.5 :1 during starting, growing and laying phase, respectively. The maximum fertility and hatchability were recorded on the eggs from the layers fed on diets containing 165 :1 and 171 :1 energy-protein ratio.
