Alternative methods of forced molting

• Grant number: 10/07175-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2010
• End date: July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Edivaldo Antônio Garcia
• Grantee: Andressa Takahara Montenegro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aiming to compare the conventional method of inducing molting (FW) to the best results in previous studies using alternative methods on the morphometric results, production and quality of eggs and propose new methods will perform an experiment using 512 Isa Brown layers, with 70 weeks of age, distributed in randomized complete block design with eight treatments and eight replicates of eight birds per plot. The experimental period which includes the molt will last for 14 days and after finishing the production data will be monitored during four cycles of 28 days. The treatments are: T1 - molt by fasting, T2 - the supply of wheat bran ad libitum, T3 - rearing ration restricted to 50 grams per bird per day for 14 days; T4 - rearing restricted to 50g per bird daily with restriction of calcium and phosphorus for 14 days; T5 - rearing ration restricted to 30 g per bird per day for 14 days; T6 - rearing ration restricted to 30 g per bird per day with restriction of calcium and phosphorus for 14 days; T7 - feed restricted production to 30 g per bird per day for 14 days, T8 - feed production restricted to 15g per bird per day for 14 days. After 14 days all birds receive increasing photoperiod up to 17 hours of light per day and will feed production. For evaluation of the physical parameters will be used 136 birds, which will be sacrificed in the course of three withdrawals (eight birds slaughtered at the beginning and eight birds per treatment slaughtered at 14 and 28 days), and to assess the quality of eggs will be used six eggs, totaling 384 eggs every 28 days. Will be evaluated: egg production, feed intake, egg weight, percentage of cracked and broken eggs, changes in weight (body, liver, reproductive organs and abdominal fat), percentage of lipids in the liver calcium content, ash and phosphorus in the tibia and tibial resistance to breakage during the period of change. Will be evaluated the performance characteristics and quality of eggs during the post changes. (AU)