Production performance and immune competence of IWK strain of White Leghorn layer breeders at low nutrient density

The effect of low nutrient density diet on production performance and immune competence was studied in White Leghorn layer breeders (IWK strain) during 24 to 52 weeks of age. A normal diet based on maize-soybean-sunflower-deoiled rice bran was formulated to contain 2600 kcal ME/kg, 15.6% CP, 0.71% lysine, 0.3% methionine, 3.5% Ca and 0.3% NPP). Another low density diet (by altering the ingredients) was formulated in which, all the above nutrients were reduced by 8%. Considering one bird (individual feeding) as a replicate, 50 such replicates were randomly allotted to one of the two dietary treatments. Reducing the major nutrients by 8% compared to basal diet did not resulted in reduction in body weight, at either 40 or 52 wks of age. The egg weight reduced significantly in the low nutrient density diet at 28 weeks of age. However, the hen day egg production (24–52 wks), subsequent egg weights (34, 40 and 52wks) and feed efficiency were also not influenced by the reduction in nutrient concentrations in the diet. The daily feed consumption was marginally higher in the low density diet (106.5 g/d) as compared to high density (105.2 g/d) however, this difference was not significant. The cell mediated immune response as measured by the CBH response to PHA-P inoculation and humoral immune response determined by the antibody titre to SRBC and NDV inoculation was comparable between the basal and low density diet. It is concluded that IWK strain of WL layers could perform well at low nutrient density diet. Average daily intake major nutrients such as 251 kcal ME, 15g protein, 0.61g lysine, 0.30g methionine, 3.3g calcium and 0.28g non-phytate phosphorus is required for optimum performance and immunity.