Effects on Production, Health and Egg Quality of Varying Proportions of Wheat and Barley in Diets for Two Hybrids of Laying Hens Kept in Different Housing Systems
Abstract
Abstract A total of 2152 hens were fed one of two diets, with 25.0% wheat and 38.7% barley or 50.0% wheat and 13.7% barley. The hens were housed in battery cages with three hens per cage and in two aviary systems with tiered wire floors and litter-Lövsta with two tiers and Marielund with three tiers. Two hybrids were used: ISA Brown and Lohmann selected Leghorn. Production, interior and exterior egg quality, health, plumage, keel bone and foot condition were studied. The high-wheat diet...