HIGH FIBER DIET AS MOLT INDUCERS FOR COMMERCIAL LAYERS UNDER DEEP LITTER SYSTEM IN BHUTAN

Abstract

A study was conducted with the objective to evaluate the effects of high fiber diets as molt inducers on production performance of 72 weeks old Hyline Brown layers under deep litter system. The four treatment diets were layer ration, cracked yellow maize, whole oat grain and tapioca. A total of 108 hens were randomly assigned to four treatments. Each treatment was replicated three times and each treatment was allotted nine hens. High fiber diets (maize, oat, tapioca) were fed ad libitum with 8 hours of light during molting period of two weeks. After molting period, birds were then fed with layer diet ad libitum for next two weeks (recovery period), except for non-molted. The parameters measured were live body weight, egg production and mortality. A significant body weight loss was observed in tapioca molt group, followed by oat and maize. A complete egg cessation in tapioca and oat molt group was recorded on day 13. On day 5 and 7 post molt period, the birds in oat and tapioca molt group restarted laying egg, respectively. Hen day egg production was slightly higher for birds fed with maize than those hens fed with oat. On the other hand, egg production from tapioca fed birds was close to non-molted hens. The lowest hen mortality was in oat diet group, compared to other treatments. The study recommends the use of oat grain as molt inducer.