Regulating Nutrient Intake in Laying Hens with Diets Fed Ad Libitum

RESEARCH data indicate that the daily feed consumption of laying hens depends primarily upon the levels of dietary protein and energy. Laying hens have the ability to compensate for low levels of dietary protein and energy by consuming more feed; and similarly, hens that are fed extremely high levels of protein and energy compensate by consuming less feed. This ability of the laying hen to regulate nutrient intake, by varying feed intake, has contributed greatly to the confusion over the exact percentages or proportions of nutrients required in laying hen diets. A comparison was made of the protein and energy intakes of laying hens at the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, when layer rations with graded levels of dietary energy and protein were fed. This comparison revealed that approximately 16 grams of protein and 300 kilocalories of energy were consumed per hen per day, regardless of the ration which was fed.…