• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.257-266
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• 1994

Three protein feeding systems for egg-type pullets involving conventional step-down protein 18-15-12%), step-up protein(12-15-18%) and single-stage low protein (13-13-13%) with an iso-energy level of 2,900 ME kcal /kg were compared to examine the effect on pullet growth and subsequent laying performance. During the growing period, pullets subjected to the step-up and single-stage low protein feeding systems were lighter in body weight and consumed less feed and netabolizable energy than those on the conventional step-down protein feeding system(P<0.05). 3ut the pullets on the step-up protein diet consumed more protein, and those on the single-stage low protein diet consumed less protein than those on the step-down protein diet(P<0.05). Also, he feed cost was less in pullets on the single-stage low protein diet than in those on the other systems(P<0.05). During the laying period, sexual maturity was later in hens reared on the step-up and single-stage low protein diets than in those on the step-down protein diet(P<0.05), however, average hen-day egg production and egg weight were not significantly affected by the protein feeding systems in the growing period. Daily feed intake and feed required per egg were significantly reduced in hens on the single-stage low protein diet compared to those on conventional protein feeding system(P<0.05). It was concluded that the 13% single-stage low protein feeding system produced smaller pullets with less feed, energy, protein, and feed cost during the growing period, and hens reared on that system consumed less feed during the laying period without any impairment of production compared to the conventional rearing system.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 1994

From the observations of dietary self-selection by growing pullets, step-up protein or reverse protein and single-stage low protein pullet feeding systems were developed. They offered another pullet feeding concept that appears to control the body weight effectively and to reduce the consumption of feed and nutrients without impairment of subsequent laying performance. It is obvious from the feed and nutrient consumption pattern of layers fed diets for self-selection of energy, protein and calcium that they have a daily cyclic requirement rather than a constant requirement for nutrients. It seems that a practical self-selective feeding system is needed to meet the daily cyclic requirement for nutrients without consuming an excess of energy and protein at certain times of the day as compared to the complete or single diet where layers have to consume extra energy and protein in the afternoon when they have a specific appetite mainly for calcium.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.267-275
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• 1994

Three dietary ME levels of 3,200, 2,900 and 2,600 kcal /kg in the same 13% single-stage low protein diet were compared to evaluate the effect of ME levels of grower diets on egg-type pullet growth and subsequent laying performance. As the ME levels of grower diets decreased, cumulative feed and protein consumptions increased(P<0.05), however, the ME intake and body weight at 18 wk of age decreased(P<0.05). Grower feed cost decreased as the dietary ME level was decreased, but no significant difference was found among dietary ME levels of grower diets. During the laying period, sexual maturity, hen-day egg production and average egg weight were not significantly affected by the ME levels of grower diet, however, daily feed intake and feed required per egg decreased as the dietary ME level of grower diet was reduced(P<0.05). Results of this study indicate that pullets can be reared on the low ME diet of 2,600 kcal /kg and it would he economical to utilize the low energy diet during the growing period when they are reared on a 13% single-stage low protein diet.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 1994

A dietary self-selection study was carried out to get information for the improvement of feeding systems of egg-type growing pullets. Corn diet, soybean meal diet, wheat bran diet and soybean meal+fish meal diet were individually prepared for self-selection regime and 380 day-old chicks of a brown egg strain were offered either a control grower diet(C) or one of the 3 self-selection regime consisted of corn-soybean meal diet ($T_1$), corn-soybean meal-wheat bran diet($T_2$) and corn-soybean meal+fishmeal-wheat bran diet($T_3$) during 20 weeks of the growing period. Compared with pullets fed control diet(C), those fed the self-selection diets($T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$) were smaller in body weight at 20 weeks of age by 12% and consumed less energy and protein by 11% and 9%, respectively. Calculated metabolizable energy levels of feed consumed during the growing period were about 3,200 kcal/kg in $T_1$ and 2,300 kcal/kg in $T_2$ and $T_3$ and dietary protein levels were about 12~13% in all self-selection diets ($T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$) regardless of pullet age. The results of the study suggest that the conventional feeding system of egg-type growing pullets should be improved in order to control the body weight effectively and to reduce the cost of grower feed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1553-1561
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• 2004

Two feeding trials were conducted with 128 pullets from 4 to 20 weeks of age and 96 laying hens from 23 to 63 weeks of age to evaluate the effects of scavenging and type of protein supplement on the feed intake and performance of improved pullets and laying hens. The experiments had a completely randomized design with four dietary treatments and four replicates. Treatments were: Control (Cont), scavenging but with access to a balanced concentrate at night; confinement (CF) and given the control feed ad libitum; scavenging and supplemented at night with the control feed, but with soybean meal replaced by cassava leaf meal (CLM); scavenging and supplemented at night with the control feed, but with fishmeal replaced y soybean meal (SBM). The mean daily dry matter (DMI), metabolizable energy (MEI) and crude protein intakes (CPI) of the pullets and laying hens, respectively, were 28%, and 18% higher for the confinement treatment (CF) compared to the scavenging treatments (p<0.001). The DMI, MEI and CPI of the pullets were not significantly different among scavenging treatments (p>0.05), but for the layers DMI, MEI and CPI were significantly higher for the CLM and SBM treatments compared to the Cont treatment (p<0.001). In the growing period, the average daily weight gain (ADG), supplement feed conversion ratio (FCR) and supplement feed cost/kg eggs (FCS) were not significantly different for CF compared to Cont, and among scavenging treatments (p>0.05). In the laying period, the hen-day production was significantly lower, and supplement FCR and FCS significantly higher for the CF compared to the scavenging treatments (p<0.001). Egg weight, and yolk, albumen and shell percentage and shape index were not significantly different among the scavenging treatments (p>0.05). However, shell and yolk percentages were significantly lower for the CF compared to the Cont treatment (p<0.01). Mortality was significantly higher for the CF compared to the scavenging treatments for pullets, and was significantly lower for the CF compared to scavenging treatments for laying hens (p<0.001). It was concluded that scavenging pullets and layers were getting around 28% and 18%, respectively, of their nutrient requirements from scavenging activities, resulting in correspondingly lower supplement feed conversion ratios and feed costs. Daily gains of the pullets were not affected by scavenging or protein supplement, but egg production and mortality were lower for the confined hens.