• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.195-204
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• 2002

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of nutrient level and feeding method of split diets for a.m. and p.m. on laying hen performance, feed cost and eggshell quality. In experiment 1, 384 ISA Brown layers of 30∼38wk of age were assigned to four treatments which comprise of three replicates each containing 32 birds. The control(C) was fed a conventional single diet throughout the day and split diet groups(T1, T2 and T3) were offered high energy/protein-low Ca diets, and low energy/protein-high Ca diets in a.m.(04:00∼15:00) and p.m.(15:00∼21:00), respectively. In the split diet groups, daily ME and CP consumption, and feed cost were significantly reduced(P<0.05) compared to the C, while the hen-day egg production, average egg weight and daily feed intake were not different among treatments. Due to the reduced daily ME and CP intakes and feed cost, the conversions of feed, ME, CP and feed cost required per day and per kg egg mass were also significantly improved(P<0.05) in the split diet groups. Eggshell qualities (egg specific gravity, egg breaking strength and eggshell thickness) were improved(P<0.05) by split diet feeding. As the Ca level of the p.m. diet increased. In Experiment 2, 384 ISA Brown layers of 50∼58 wk of age were used in three treatments and each treatment was represented by four replicates each containing 32 birds. The control(C) was fed a conventional single diet throughout the day and split diet group(T1) was offered high energy/protein-low Ca diets, and low energy/protein-high Ca diets in a.m.(04:00∼l5:00) and p.m.(15:00∼21:00), respectively. T2 group was fed the diet mixed (50:50) with the a.m. diets in mash and p.m. diet in pellet used T1 group. In T1 and T2 groups, daily feed intake and average egg weight were significantly reduced(P<0.05) compared to the C, while the hen-day egg production was not influenced by the feeding system. Daily ME and CP consumption, and feed cost were reduced(p.0.05), and the conversions of ME, CP and feed cost required per egg were also significantly improved(P<0.05) in T1 and T2, while the conversions of feed, ME, CP and feed cost required per kg egg mass were not different to the C. Eggshell qualities of T1 and T2 were improved(P<0.05) compared to the others. It was concluded the feed and nutrients consumption, feed cost per day or per kg egg mass could be reduced by introducing split diets for a.m. and p.m. and the feeding method of mixed diet of split diets were also convenient and effective for sparing feed cost and improvement of eggshell quality.