Dietary energy requirement of egg type chicken under cage and floor rearing systems at high altitude of Kumaon hills

A study was conducted to optimize dietary energy requirements of layer birds (CARI Sonali) under two housing systems at high altitude of Kumaon hills. Two hundred seventy layer birds (20 wks old) were distributed in cage and floor system of management and provided iso-nitrogenous (16% CP) diet each at three different levels of energy (2700, 2600 and 2500 kcal ME/kg) during summer, autumn and winter months. Cage reared layers require low energy kcal/kg diet, for better hen day egg production(HDEP). Floor reared birds recorded high HDEP in high energy diet during summer, but performed at par with low energy diet during autumn or winter months. The production level was higher in caged birds compared to those reared on floor. The egg laid by the cage birds did not differ in the external or internal quality at different energy levels, but floor birds fed low energy diet had higher proportion of albumen than yolk. These results indicated that CARI Sonali layer birds when reared in cages should be provided with 2500 kcal ME/kg diet, but 2700 kcal ME on floor rearing for better hen day egg production at high altitudes.