Nutritional Factors Modifying Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome in Caged Laying Hens

Three experiments each with two phases were conducted to study the effect of different levels of distillers dried grain (DDG), fat, oats and a mixture of oats and DDG on Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome (FLHS) in caged laying hens. The second phase of each experiment was conducted by force-feeding the same diets used in the first phase at 120% of their normal intakes. This produces FLHS and thereby permits studying the effect of diets. During the force-feeding period of the third experiment, serum estradiol levels of hens from each treatment and each type of feeding were measured to study the effect of endogenous estradiol level on FLHS. The 30% DDG in the diet was more effective against FLHS than when present at the 20% level. Addition of 5 to 10% grease in the diet decreased feed consumption significantly (P