Effect of enzyme supplementation on egg production performance of two strains of White Leghorn chicken

Experiment was conducted on 360 pedigreed females each of IWN and IWP strains of White Leghorn hens. Economic traits measured include body weight (BW), total egg number (TEN) average egg weights (EW), total feed consumption per bird (TFC), feed consumption per egg produced (FCE), feed cost per egg produced as ECOST egg weight (EW). As dietary energy level was increased, BW was increased significantly (P < 0.05) at 40, 64 and 72 weeks of age. Energy levels (2400, 2550 and 2700 kcal ME) did not affect TEN. As dietary energy level was increased, TFC and FCE was decreased (P< 0.05) at 40, 64 and 72 weeks of age. EW₇₂ at 2400 kcal ME level differed significantly (P< 0.05) from EW₇₂ at other ME levels. Enzyme supplementation reduced (P< 0.05) the TFC₆₄ TFC₇₂FCE64 and ECOST64. Effects of energy levels and enzyme supplementation were found significant (P< 0.05) for TFC₄₀ at 2400 and 2550 kcal ME levels but non significant for TFC₆₄ and TFC₇₂. At 2400, 2550 and 2700 kcal ME levels, TFC₆₄ and TFC₇₂ were lower in enzyme group than control group. Effects of energy levels and enzyme supplementation were found significant (P< 0.05) for FCE₆₄ECOST₆₄ and ECOST₇₂ at 2550 kcal ME level but not for egg weight. It can be concluded that enzyme supplementation in layer diets can result in better production in White Leghorn and the layer birds can be economical reared low energy (2400 kcal ME/kg) diets.