Abstract
This study was investigated to study split diets on laying performance and eggshell quality with Hy-Line brown layers 43 weeks old for 12 weeks Layers fed a conventional diet and split diets were divided into morning and afternoon diet. The conventional diet contained 3.4 % Ca was given constant nutrients all day. Hens of the split diets fed morning diets contained 0.5 % Ca constantly and afternoon diets contained 5.9, 8.0, and 10.0 % Ca in T1to T3. Split diets were given morning diets from 04:00 to 15:00 and afternoon diets 15:00 to 21 :00 alternately. Egg production, egg weight, and egg mass were not significantly different among diets. Abnormal eggs decreased in T1 and T2, but no significantly differed(P>0.05). Feed intake decreased in all of split diets compared to control diets (P <0.05). So, feed conversion ratio also improved in split diets(P<0.05). ME and CP intake decreased in T2 and T3, and Ca intake increased in proportion to Ca content of diets(P<0.05). ME and CP requirements per kg eggs decreased in the split diets, and that of Ca increased. Although there were not different significantly, egg shell strength and thickness improved slightly in T2 at 12 week. Yolk color, haugh unit and yolk index were not different among diets. Therefore, we concluded that split diet feeding to layer could improve feed and economic efficiency with normal egg production.
