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Abstract
The present investigation was carried out at EL- Sabahia Poultry Research Station, Alexandria, Animal Production Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture between September 2006 and January 2007. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of feeding different levels of protein and methionine on Baheij laying hens performance.
The experimental design was complete randomized factorial (3X4) design with three levels of protein (12, 14 and 16 %) and four levels of methionine (1.673, 2.000, 2.327 and 2.754% of crud protein). Diets were kept isocaloric and cover the other nutrient requirements of this type of birds, except crude protein and methionine, according to Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture recommendation. A total number of 192 Baheij pullets and 60 cocks at 24 wks of age were weighed individually, then randomly assigned and housed in individual wire laying cages measuring (30 x 25 x 40 cm) until the end of the experiment. Birds were divided into twelve treatment groups of sixteen pullets and five cocks each on the in each protein and methionine level. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum throughout the experimental period. (24 – 47 wks of age).
The results, collected from the beginning of 28 wk tell the last day of 47 wk of age, could be summarized as following:
1. Body weight was insignificant affected by different portion, methionine and the interaction between protein and methionine levels among each intervals and the overall mean of body weight.
2. Protein, methionine levels and the there interaction had not been affected significantly in the overall mean (28-47 wks of age) of egg production.
3. Overall mean results of egg weight and mass were not affected significantly by protein levels, while, increasing methionine level in layer diet increase the overall mean of egg weight and mass. Also, the interaction between protein and methionine reveals that the best average egg weight, for the overall mean (28-47 wks of age), was produced by hens fed 16% CP and 2.754 Meth % CP. The interaction did not significantly affected on egg mass during the same period.
4. Feed intake and feed conversion among each of the different intervals of experiment and the overall mean (28-47 wks of age) was insignificantly affected by protein, methionine and the interaction between protein and methionine levels, except during the period 28-47 wks of age and for the overall mean (28-47 wks of age). The best feed conversion was recorded by supplementation of 2.754 Meth % of CP.
5. Protein and methionine intake (g/hen/day) are significantly increased by increasing protein levels throughout different intervals and the overall mean (28-47 wks of age).
6. Wet yolk weight percentage was insignificantly affected by protein levels among experimental treatments while dried yolk weight percentage was significantly increased with increasing protein levels among experimental treatments. While wet and dried yolk weight percentage was not affect significantly by methionine levels or by the interaction between protein and methionine among each of experimental treatments. Also, wet and dried albumen weight percentage was insignificantly affected by protein, methionine levels or by the interaction between protein and methionine among experimental treatments.