EFFECT OF CRUDE FIBRE CONCENTRATION IN PULLET DIETS (9-16 WEEKS) ON THEIR SUBSEQUENT PERFORMANCE

Abstract

The EU produces more than 190 million tons of meat, milk and eggs. About 450 million tons of feeds/year are needed to support this production in the 28 EU member states. Research and innovation in animal feeding and in feed manufacturing technology are basic for the support of animal production in the EU, being the most profitable investment for this industrial sector. One of the problems with market demands regards the economic efficiency of the production, which involves diet formulations and choosing feed ingredients. Fibre-high feed ingredients can decrease the cost of feeding because of their lower costs compared to the conventional raw materials used in poultry diets. The paper reports the findings of a study on the effect of higher dietary crude fibre levels given to replacement pullets on their subsequent performance. A feeding trial was conducted on 240 Lohmann Brown pullets (9-16 weeks). The pullets have been assigned randomly to four groups (C, E1, E2, and E3), with 60 pullets per group, housed in an experimental hall under controlled environmental conditions. The diets for the four groups were characterized by 14.5% CP and 2800 kcal/kg ME. Compared to the diet for group C (5% fibre/kg compound feed, CF), the experimental diets had different levels of dietary fibre, given by the different amounts of dietary alfalfa: 6% fibre/kg CF (E1), 8% fibre/kg CF (E2), and 10% fibre/kg CF (E3), in combination with 2 enzymatic products that improve fibre digestibility (Biozim M6000 and Digestarom). The production parameters (feed intake, body weight, weight gain and animal welfare) were monitored throughout the experimental period. The experimental results have shown that feeding pullets (9-16 weeks) with compound feeds high in fibre (6% - E1; 8% - E2 and 10% - E3), didn’t affect the growth parameters. The positive results compared to group C were recorded for group E2 (8% dietary fibre). The average live weight of E2 pullets (1419.5±97.76g GV) was significantly (P≤0.5) higher (by 4.65%) compared to group C pullets (1356.33±110.64 g LW). The live weight of E2 pullets also was 6.73% higher compared to the values stated in the Lohmann Brown management guide (1330.00 g LW).