Energy Utilization of Four Strains of Commercial Layers and Influence on Suggested Dietary Methionine Level

Abstract

Harms, R.H., Russell, G.B. and Sloan, D.R. 2000. Energy utilization of four strains of commercial layers and influence on suggested dietary methionine level. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 18: 25–31.

An experiment was conducted to compare the energy required to produce a g of egg content (EC) for four strains of commercial layers. Calculations were made to demonstrate the effect on the level of Met needed in the diet. The energy required to produce a g of EC was 6.60, 5.78, 6.09 and 6.35 kcal, respectively for the Hy-Line Brown, Hy-Line W36, Hy-Line W98 and DeKalb White hens. Therefore, the calculated requirement for percent of Met needed in the feed in this experiment (2799 kcal/kg) would be 0.254, 0.312, 0.276, and 0.260%, respectively for Hy-Line Brown, Hy-Line W36, Hy-Line 98 and DeKalb White.

Key words:

• Laying hen
• methionine
• egg content
• energy requirement