Evaluation of High Dietary Aluminum as a Force Resting Agent in Laying Hens PDF

Keywords

Aluminium, laying hens, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

A total of 416 Saudi Arabian Baladi hens were divided into four experimental groups and subjected to the following treatments: Commercial laying ration (17% CP, 3.6% Ca and 0.343 available P) fed ad libitum as a control (C); Conventional force molting, feed removal for 10 days followed by 18 days full feed of cracked corn (F); 15 days ad libitum intake of the control ration supplemented with 0.35% Al as the sulfate (AIS) or chloride (AIC). During the force resting period. egg production of F and Al fed groups was significantly (P < .05) lower than that of the control. F ceased production 10 days following feed withdrawal. whereas AIS and AIC were producing at 10.62% and 14 .42 % at the end of the force resting period AIS. AIS and (C) by the end of the force resting period. AIS, AI and F had significantly (P < .05) lower weights than the control (C) by the end of the treatment and lost 13 .04, 10.27 and 20.04% of their initial weight, respectively. Al fed groups consumed significantly (p < .05) less feed compared with the control and their feed intake was about 62% of that of the control.