Phenotypic and genetic effects on feed intake of laying hens in different years

Feed intake from 21 to 40 wk and from 41 to 60 wk of age of brown egg layers was analyzed. The full model contained BW, egg mass (EM) output, BW change (BWCH), and age at first egg as covariates in addition to effects of plumage condition class, sire, and dam. A reduced model contained the covariates only. Between 905 and 1,161, and 880 and 1,119 hens were available in the first and second periods, respectively. Averaged over 6 yr the full model explained 84 and 77%, the reduced model 73 and 63%, respectively, of the variance in feed consumption in the two periods. Regression coefficients for BW showed only a small variation between years as well as between periods. Variation was larger for the coefficients of EM and of BWCH. Larger coefficients were observed in the first period for both traits. The sequence of entering the reduced equation in a stepwise procedure was always BW, EM output, then BWCH. Averaged over 6 yr, the relative contribution of BW by its own to the accuracy of the regression model, was 68 and 60% in the two periods. Egg mass output then added 25 and 39%, and BWCH 7 and 2% in the first and second periods, respectively. The predictive value of the covariates changed with increasing age of the hens. A high average heritability of .48 could be estimated for the residual feed intake in both periods. This suggested enhanced selection response for efficiency.