Efficiency of the utilization of the energy of food in laying hens

Abstract

SUMMARY: The efficiency of utilization of the energy of food in White Leghorn laying hens for egg production was measured. A ration with a gross energy of 4469 kcal/kg dry matter and 19·4% crude protein had a metabolizable energy of 80·1±1·7% of the gross energy, and 78·5±5·3% of the metabolizable energy was present as net energy.The maintenance requirement of metabolizable energy of White Leghorn hens weighing 1·723±48·5 kg and a production of 19·3±0–49 eggs per month was 125·8 kcal/kg^0·75/24 hr.The energy cost per g of protein and fat synthesized by laying White Leghorn hens was estimated to be 7·20 and 12·13 kcal metabolizable energy respectively.