Effect of various fasting and feeding regimes during moult on subsequent body weight, egg number and some serum biochemical parameters of layers

Body weight and egg number did not vary significantly in relation to fastin g and feeding regimes. Total lipids varied significantly in relation to fas ting regimes (P<0.01). Total lipid concentration was maximum (1828.2 mg/dl) in birds which had undergone 10 days fasting and minimum in birds that had fasted 15 days (936.3 mg/dl). The cholesterol concentration (82.5 mg/dl) w as found to be significantly lower (P < 0.05) in birds which were fasted fo r 15 days. Total protein contents were the highest in birds with 10 days fa sting and then continuous feeding (6.0 gm/dl). Albumin and globulin concent rations were not significantly different either with the fasting or feeding regime, but globulin content was significantly higher in birds that had ha d 10 days fasting and continuous feeding (4.0 gm/dl). Glucose concentration was lowest (181.3 mg/dl) in birds having 5 days fasting and continuous fee ding. Phosphorus and calcium concentrations were significantly higher (7.4 and 18.5 mg/dl, respectively) in birds subjected to 10 days fasting.