Effect of energy level of pullet diet and age on laying performance and expression of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal related genes in laying hens.

ABSTRACT: Dietary energy density influences feed intake (FI) and development of layer-type pullets. A total of 384 nine-wk-old Hy-Line Brown pullets were randomly assigned to one of 3 dietary treatments: fed a diet with 2,600, 2,750, and 2,900 Kcal metabolizable energy/kg (ME/kg) from 10 to 21 wk of age. The results showed that the 2,900 and 2,600 ME groups had lower feed and ME intake (P < 0.01) from 10 to 21 wk of age. The 2,600 ME pullets had heavier body weight (BW) and longer shank length (P < 0.05) at 21 wk of age than the 2,750 ME group. The eggshell percentage was increased by the 2,600 and 2,900 kcal/kg treatments (P = 0.002). Serum concentration of 17-β-estradiol (E₂), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) decreased at 70 wk of age (P < 0.05). Pullet d

SUBMITTER: Xin Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11190712 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature