Effect of inclusion of sugar beet pulp, pelleting and season on laying hen performance

1. The effect of three metabolisable energy (ME) concentrations 12.2, 11.3 and 10.5 MJ ME/kg and two forms of diet (mash and pellet) on egg production in summer and winter were studied. The different ME values were obtained by diluting the 12.2 MJ ME/kg diet with sugar beet pulp of 2.88 MJ/kg DM. In a 3rd summer experiment the water intake of hens on these diets was examined. Data were analysed by factorial analysis of variance, and the relationship between performance and dietary energy concentration was examined by regression analysis. 2. The use of low energy diets (10.5 to 11.3 MJ ME/kg) decreased egg production in both seasons, but pelleting diets improved egg production and egg weight in summer. Egg weight was not affected by energy density in winter, but decreased in the summer when energy density increased. 3. In winter, food consumption was not affected by the dietary ME, while in summer food consumption increased when the dietary ME increased. Therefore, energy intake was not the same at all energy densities, but tended to increase as the energy density increased. 4. In summer, pelleting improved food efficiency and egg production and increased water consumption and the ratio of water to food intake. Water intake and water: food ratio decreased with increasing dietary energy concentration.