Technical and economic evaluation of stocking density, dietary energy level and carnitine supplementation on laying hens

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the effects of stocking density, dietary energy level and carnitine supplementation on performance, total costs, egg sale prices and profit of laying liens. One hundred seventy six, 32 weeks of age, Bovans white laying liens were used in the study. At the beginning of the study, hens were distributed to 8 groups with 4 replicates, liens in 4 groups were placed at the density of 500 cm(2)/hen and in the remaining 4 groups were placed at the density of 287.5 cm(2)/hen. Hens were fed either basal diet (low; 2650 kcal/kg ME or high; 2850 kcal/kg ME) or basal diet supplemented with 200 ppm carnitine. Treatments were not effected the live weight, egg production and egg weight (p > 0.05). Feed intake was significantly decreased and feed efficiency was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the groups fled high dietary energy. Minimum total cost and maximum profit were determined on high dietary energy, placed at a stocking density of 500 cm(2)/hen and carnitine free group. There was not significant interaction between treatments. In conclusion, the increased energy level of the diet improves the profit, but the impact of the carnitine on profit changes depending on the energy level of the diet and stocking density