At the beginning, the administration of DDGS to feed mixtures for hens did not
result in a rapid decrease of laying performance in both experimental groups, and
the mean values of this parameter noted in all groups were similar to the standard
value (www.hendrix-genetics.com, 2008 a). Nevertheless, in group E2 fed the mixture
with 20% DDGS a successive decrease was observed in laying performance.
This group was also characterized by the least unvaried values of this parameter.(Figure 1). The laying intensity (%) in this group was significantly lower (P≤0.01)
than in groups C and E1 (Table 4). In group E1 (15% DDGS), the laying performance
was slightly higher than in group C, but the difference was insignificant.
Figure 1. ISA Brown laying production (%) over the experimental period
Table 4. Production results during the period of 18 weeks
Parameters
Group C Group E1 Group E2
LSM SEM LSM SEM LSM SEM
Laying performance (%) 91.9 A 0.32 92.5 A 0.31 90.7 B 0.31
Mean egg weight (g) 60.3 A 0.11 60.0 A 0.11 60.2 A 0.11
Feed intake (g/hen/day) 114.1 A 0.05 113.9 A 0.05 113.8 A 0.05
Feed conversion (kg/kg egg mass) 2.07 A 0.01 2.05 AB 0.01 2.09 B 0.01
A, B – Values in rows with different letters differ significantly at P≤0.01.
The mean egg weight in all groups was at a similar level, and the minute differences
were not confirmed statistically (Table 4). The mean daily feed intake in the
experimental groups was almost identical as in the control group. However, owing
to the lower laying performance in group E2, the FCR per kg of egg weight was significantly
higher (P≤0.01) in this group than in the other groups (Table 4).
Results of standard qualitative assessment of eggs were presented in Table 5.
Over the 18-week experimental period, egg weight was observed to increase significantly
(P≤0.01) in all groups (Table 5) but to a different extent in particular groups,
i.e.