Document Type

Report

Report Number

A.S. Series 73-16

Publication Date

1973

Summary

Numerous studies, including several at this station, have shown that layer type pullets can tolerate diets as low as 10 to 12% protein during the growing period. In fact, subsequent reproductive performance of pullets reared on such diets has been just as good as that of pullets reared on diets of higher protein content. Other work has shown that use of low energy grower diets, i.e., 1800- 2300 Calories of Metabolizable Energy per kilogram, have produced pullets capable of performing as well or better than those reared on higher energy diets, 2800- 3100 Gal./kilogram. Layer house mortality has generally been lower for pullets grown on the lower energy diets. However, the low energy fed pullets require much more feed, the relative proportions are in inverse relationship to the energy level of the diet. Consequently, pullet growers have generally not used low energy feeds extensively, i.e., oats or barley with hulls or other fiber sources vs. com or milo as the cereal position. This study evaluated two energy levels with and without an antibiotic. Antibiotics have not been shown to be of value for this period of growth on higher energy feeds. But, with low energy feeds, we have little or no information as to their potential value.

Number of Pages

3

Type

text

Format

application/pdf

Language

en

Publisher

Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Experiment Station, South Dakota State University

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