ECONOMETRIC FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT FOR FIRST CYCLE PHASE-2 DEKALB DELTA HENS

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding method (constant vs variable) and method of formulation (lysine vs protein) o n the performance and profits of first cycle, phase 2 DeKalb Delta hen s from 40 to 52 wk of age as influenced by egg and feed prices. Treatm ents 1 to 5 were formulated based on lysine to contain 0.65 to 0.81% T SAA and fed continuously regardless of feed consumption (constant feed ing). Treatments 6 to 10 and 11 to 15 were formulated based on lysine to supply 570 to 650 mg TSAA and protein to supply 580 to 660 mg TSAA per hen per d, respectively, and fed based on feed intake. Dietary TSA A level had no overall significant effect on feed consumption, egg pro duction, egg weight, mortality, or body weight. Hens fed diets using t he constant method of feeding had significantly higher egg production, egg weight, egg specific gravity, and body weight than hens fed diets formulated based on lysine or protein using the variable method of fe eding. When the treatments in the two variable feeding methods were co mpared, feed consumption was significantly higher for hens fed diets f ormulated based on protein whereas egg production, egg weight, egg spe cific gravity, and body weight were not different. It was concluded th at method of formulation (lysine vs protein) and TSAA levels required for maximum profits can vary from at least 570 to 821 mg per hen per d depending upon energy and protein cost.