Authors : M. Chan-Colli , M. Carvajal-Hernandez , J. Segura-Correa , L. Sarmiento-Franco and R. Santos-Ricalde
Abstract: A 3 � 2 factorial experiment was conducted with commercial hens to determine the effect of dietary energy (2600, 2700 and 2800 kcal of ME kg 1) and total sulphur amino acids (TSAA, 0.65 and 0.71%) concentrations on egg traits of laying hens from 28-37 weeks of age. Birds (n = 240) were randomly assigned into 6 treatments. The energy x TSAA interaction was significant (p< 0.05) on feed, methionine, TSAA and energy intakes (p< 0.05). At 0.71% TSSA, feed (104.6, 102.1 and 95.9 g), methionine (0.42, 0.41 and 0.38 g) and TSAA (0.74, 0.73 and 0.68 g) intakes decreased as the dietary energy level of the diet increased, but were similar among levels of dietary energy for the hens fed 0.65% TSAA. The energy intake increased as the level of dietary energy of the hens fed 0.65% TSAA increased (261.1, 276.4 and 284.3 kcal) and it was similar among levels of dietary energy for hens fed 0.71% TSAA. Eggs from hens fed 0.71% TSAA were heavier than eggs from hens fed 0.65% TSAA (p< 0.05) (58.3 and 59.2 g, respectively). The level of energy had a quadratic effect on egg weight (58.5, 59.3 and 58.4 g). The results indicate that hens firstly fitted their feed intake based on TSAA content in the diet and secondly by the content of energy in the diet. Both dietary energy and TSAA intakes influenced the egg weight. Hens fitted their fed intake to 0.37 g of methionine and 0.66 g of TSAA per day.
M. Chan-Colli , M. Carvajal-Hernandez , J. Segura-Correa , L. Sarmiento-Franco and R. Santos-Ricalde , 2007. Effect of Dietary Energy and Sulphur Amino Acids Level on Egg Production Traits in the Tropics . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 1209-1213.